been a charter member of his lodge when it was instituted. He has instituted two or three lodges in that territory within the past year and has gained many other members. No more faithful and determined worker could have been selected; and Bro. Bailey has well earned this recognition of his value to the Brotherhood.

THE S. P. STRIKE, ETC. To Officers and Members of Lodges:

Owing to the complete exhaustion of the Protective Fund and the slow receipts of contributions and assessments, I was obliged to withdraw all financial support from our striking brothers, on December 23rd, and return to Kansas City.

On December 20th, a committee of mayors representing eleven cities and towns in Louisiana, had an interview with the general managers of the Atlantic System of the S. P. Railway, and endeavored to effect a settlement between the company and striking Clerks. The only concession they were able to gain was the granting of an audience to a sub-committee of the board of adjustment, which resulted only in an offer being made in writing, signed by both of those officials, to permit the striking Clerks to return to the service, as they were needed, without discrimination against them because of their membership in the Clerks' organization; and to give preference to the old Clerks. Verbally, the members of the board were assured that the Clerks would be given fair treatment in the future if they accepted this offer.

About fifty per cent of the striking members had secured positions elsewhere, some of them having gained better positions than they formerly held. Regardless of the fact that no further financial help was given them, those still unemployed held out until last Sunday when the pressure become so great that, in justice to them and in the interest of the organization, the proposition of the general manager's was accepted and the strike declared at an end.

Failure to win this strike is wholly due to the fact that it was our first strike, coupled with the further fact that we had not sufficient funds to properly prosecute it. The officials did not believe that we were so well organized, nor that the boys would go out and stay out for any length of time. Furthermore, they thought they

could easily handle the business temporarily, without great detriment to the interests of the company. But they were in error in every calculation, for the clerks came out and remained out for twelve weeks and two days.

During that time only about two per cent returned to the company's service, while a much greater number left the service and joined the strikers, or returned whence they came. Had the officials realized that the strikers would hold out, that so many carloads of freight would go astray and block their sidings until they were forced to discontinue handling everything but perishable freight east of Lafayette, which they did about December 15th; and that the volume of loss and damage claims would have been so great and the average sɔ large in amount, no strike would have occurred. This advice came from various sources and was supplemented in one instance by the statement that, having carried the struggle thus far, the company had decided to fight to the bitter end this time, but in future there would be no opposition to the Clerks' organization. One of the officials above referred to remarked to a member of another organization of employes on about December 1st that the Clerks' strike had then cost the company over three millions of dollars; if that is true, double the amount will not cover the entire loss which the company will ultimately sustain in consequence. Many carloads of freight, the origin and destination of which were still unascertained, remained on the sidings on December 31st, and doubtlessly many of them are yet undisposed of.

Though unsuccessful in this instance, we are not defeated; instead, we shall follow the advice of a conductor friend who said: "Don't let this discourage you, but keep up the effort and you will surely win out; some day you will be stronger than we are." Mr. Perham, president of the O. R. T., in a talk made to the striking brothers in Houston, Tex., said: "Very few strikes of railway employes, if any, have been won during the past seven years, but no strike was ever lost." That is certainly applicable to our case, for we have shown the nonmembers who have been asking for it, that we have the determination, energy and pluck to fight for our rights and will not. accept defeat. We have shown railway

officials that Railway Clerks must still be reckoned with; that they recognize themselves as being worthy of and entitled to equal consideration to that given to other employes, and are determined to secure the protection, rights and benefits that have been accorded to the others.

We have shown the railway world that Railway Clerks have awakened to a full knowledge of their necessities and opportu nities and will not only strike if necessary, but will hold together to the end. No class of employes ever made a better record in a strike and the Brotherhood has just cause to feel proud of its first test. We have also demonstrated to railway officials

trate; but the firemen are organized on all other branches of the Harriman lines and threatened to extend the strike thereto. This is a good object lesson for us, and shows us how powerful we shall some time become.

Immediately following the institution of this strike several of the connecting lines increased the rates of pay and granted better conditions of service to the Clerks in their employ, voluntarily; this was a direct result of this strike. We have gained some substantial and permanent benefits for our members employed by the Illinois Central Railway in New Orleans and Memphis, and the Texas & Pacific in New Orleans, since

that experienced Clerks are positively nec essary to the correct and prompt handling of railway business, and that it is ruinously expensive to undertake to do without them even for a short time.

During the past six months five strikes have occurred upon this branch of the S. P. Railway, none of which were nearly as disastrous to the interests of the company as the Clerks' strike. The last strike to occur was the Firemens', and the company had very little trouble in filling the positions of the firemen on the oil burning engines of the system, and scarcely any delay to any of the trains resulted; yet the firemen were enabled to win an arbitration of their grievances, though the company had positively refused to arbi

the commencement of the Southern Pacific strike; contracts covering increases in pay and the usual improved conditions of serIvice having been secured for them. Other gains of a like character are in prospect and will probably be realized in a few days.

The prospects for continued growth of the organization are highly encouraging, in several directions; but a few of the lodges already established are languishing from various causes; one as a direct result of unfaithfulness upon the part of its financial secretary, who has misapplied more of the lodge funds than he was bonded for. Much interest is being taken in the proposed affiliation with the American Federation of Labor, and I am unofficially advised that quite a number of lodges have adopted res

olutions favoring the submission of the proposition to a referendum vote by the membership; but up to the present time five of the lodges having taken such action have made official report thereof. We shall now make special effort to interest our membership in the Mutual Benefit Department because we know that it will ultimately prove as beneficial to our members and the brotherhood as have similar departments with the other organizations of railway employes.

Sincerely and fraternally,

WILBUR BRAGGINS,
Grand President.

Kansas City, Mo., Jany. 12th, '07.

A CLERK ANXIOUS FOR JUSTICE.

Willing to Share With Those Getting It, but Isn't Manly Enough to Help.

The following correspondence is selfexplanatory and no comment is needed:

A few lines of history in connection with it will be both interesting and instructive, however.

When the strike was called we had about seven members in the employ of the S. P. Co., at San Antonio, who, under the leadership of another member not in the service, refused to obey the order; and, a guilty conscience goading them on to of fering excuses which did not justify their faithlessness to their fellows, they became soft-shelled nuts for the jay reporters working for the country-style newspapers, owned by the S. P. Co. and published in the beautiful and thriving city of San Antonio. For weeks and even months, scarcely an issue of these little sheets appeared without publication of one or more quotations from some of those clerks; big, black display type and borders being frequently used to make the country editors think the matter was of great importance, but in fact making the whole newspaper force in that city appear silly. Telegraphic dispatches were sent out to other journals at Houston and Galveston, by these jay reporters, and thus they reached the neighboring towns: outsiders did not know how insignificant and few these little fellows without manhood were, some injury to our cause resulted. It is possible the writer of the letter following was thus influenced to also decline to go out with the striking Clerks, as he at first said he would do, and we

as

will therefore pass him without further notice.

Mr. Wilbur Braggins, G. P. B. of R. C.

Dear Sir and Friend:-Herewith hand you express money order for five dollars. As it has been some time since we have heard from you and the boys, will take this opportunity of asking you to give us a correct outline of the present status of things along the S. P. Co. line affected by the strike. Do hope that the boys will not weaken any if there is the least hope or shadow of a chance for them to win. I am not a member of the Order but am willing to help you all that I can. I think that I have and can do you more good by staying in and keeping at work. It has been reported at various times that part or at least a good per cent. of the boys had weakened and gone back to work at various places on this company's line. I do not think that hardly probable. You can count us in on any deal to help you out. I trust that we may get what we have asked for in the near future and that all will be well once more. But whatever the boys do, keep up the fight and I feel that there will be something doing soon. Wishing you one and all a happy New Year, beg to remain, yours to command.

Dear Sir:-Your letter of the 5th inst., together with the express money order for five dollars enclosed with same, addressed to me at Houston was forwarded to Kansas City and received a few days since; I have been too busy previously to make reply thereto.

Upon investigating our records I find that you were at one time a member of the Brotherhood and I recollect that at the beginning of the strike on the Southern Pacific it was expected that you would join with the other Clerks who did go out and thereby help to secure the benefits which you know the clerks are justly entitled to, and which you so earnestly desired that they should secure. Had a few more of the Clerks employed by the Southern Pacific Company at Houston, Galveston, San Antonio and Del Rio joined with those who did go out on that strike, there is no question but that a different result would have followed. How do you suppose a Railway Company can be coerced into granting Railway Clerks equal consideration and benefits to those acorded to the other classes of employes if all of them were to say "I think that I have and can do you more good by staying in and keeping at work," as you have done in this letter? If it would be right for you to remain at work while the others took the risk and fought the battle why would it not be right for all the others to do the same?

I regret indeed that Clerks with your intelligence and thorough understanding of the necessity for and benefits to be gained

through organized effort can still lack the manhood to join with their more courageous brothers in an effort to promote the interest of all. The day will come when you will sorely regret that you lacked the sturdy manhood to cause you to stand with your fellow Clerks in this struggle. You may rest assured of one thing, and that is that Railway officials will have many times greater respect for a Clerk who will stand up with his fellows for their just rights, than he will for one who will not do so.

I sincerely hope that this will be a lesson to you and that when the next occasion presents itself, as it most surely will if you continue in this department of the service, that you will then be with us, not only in sentiment but in effort.

Under the circumstances I cannot feel that we can consistently accept your proffered donation, and therefore return herewith the express money order sent me. Sincerely yours, WILBUR BRAGGINS, Grand President.

Attention to the establishing of this department has unfortunately been delayed in consequence of the strike upon the Atlantic System of the S. P. Railway, and the Grand President's enforced absence in connection therewith.

This feature of business will now be given especial attention and the building up of our Insurance Department vigorously pushed forward.

Quite a number of applications for membership in this department have been received, and inquiries regarding it and requests for blank applications for membership therein are coming in daily. Certifi cates of membership will now be issued in a few days to those who are entitled thereto, and such certificates promptly mailed to the proper addresses.

Every member of the Brotherhood who has not already done so should promptly make application for membership in this department; because it is a good sensible business proposition from any and every point of view it may be considered. First, it is the cheapest method of providing ef fective insurance that has yet been devised; this is proven by the results attained by all other classes of railway employes that have preceded us in the work. Ask any member of the B. of L. E., O. R. C., B. of L. F., B. of R. T., O. R. T., M. W. of E. or B. of R. C. of A., if the benefit or insurance department of his organization

has not been highly successful, and proven a boon indeed to the families of its deceased members. In addition to the valuable primary benefit which will accrue to each member of the Members Mutual Benefit Department, the success of the department will greatly aid in building up the Brotherhood and thereby enhance its ability to get increased pay and improved conditions of service for all Railway Clerks in the country. How so? By making membership in the Brotherhood so much more desirable and attractive it will aid materially in gaining new members, and by making membership more valuable it will aid to hold the old members and cause them to pay their dues more promptly. Furthermore, as with the other organizations of railway employes a surplus will accrue which will, as it grows, give the Brotherhood more stability and better standing and greater influence in every way.

Let all Railway Clerks get into their class organization, the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, then into its Members Mutual Benefit Department and gain the same advantages that have been secured by the other classes of railway employes through such action. It is no experiment, it is a tried and successful plan with the other classes; and Railway Clerks have at least equal intelligence and business ability with the others in the saine service.

L. S. & M. CLERKS GAINED INCREASES.

The Board of Adjustment representing the members of the B. of R. C. in the employ of the Lake Shore road endeavored, several months since, to secure a contract with the company which would allow them a horizontal increase in pay and the improved conditions of service that have been gained by the employes in other branches of the service.

The superintendent finally insisted that the proposition should be submitted to the respective agents, and let it come to him through them. In view of the fact that no opposition was offered to their efforts and that the members of the organization were not discriminated against it was perfectly proper that this requirement should be complied with, as it was.

In due time the answer was received, through the agents, addressed to the respective local committees, agreeing to allow increases, to commence at the first of

the month, Décember, but not on a percentage basis; it being decided that it would be more equitable, at this time, to make a general adjustment of salaries than to grant a horizontal increase. The increases took effect on December 1st and ranged from $2.50 to $17.50 per month.

Just at this time the officials were not ready to enter into a contract establishing the rules of service asked for; but the Clerks were asked to be patient and to assist the officials in arranging satisfactory relations with the company.

This is highly satisfactory so far; and as there is no disposition upon the part of the officials to deny them the right to or ganize, nor to discriminate against the members of the Brotherhood in any way, they can afford to make haste slowly.

THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC STRIKE. In reviewing the issues of the Clerk since the institution of the Southern Pacific strike it is discovered that no report of the strike by the Clerks in the employ of the Texas & Pacific Railway in New Orleans has yet been published.

The T. & P. local freight office force in New Orleans became very thoroughly or ganized about September last and through its protective committee presented a proposition for increased pay and establishment of the usual improved conditions of ser vice, to the superintendent of the division. Quite a number of communications passed between them, none of which were satisfactory to the members of the committee; one of the most objectionable features being that recognition of the Brotherhood was denied.

Finally, the committee appealed from the superintendent to the general manager of the road who, in acknowledgement, addressed the chairman of the committee in his official capacity as a representative of the Brotherhood and promised early consideration of the proposition. The matter was so long delayed, however, that the committee finally became fearful that the intention was to permanently ignore attention to the case presented and a strike was determined upon, and was put into effect about ten days subsequent to the beginning of the Southern Pacific strike; every man, including the chief clerk, walking out at 9 o'clock in the morning, leaving the agent alone in possession.

The officials did not even try to replace the striking Clerks nor to continue handling business but instead, efforts were immediately begun to enter into negotiations for an amicable adjustment of the differences. This resulted in the execution of a contract between the company and the Clerks whereby the latter received increases in pay, a stipulated number of hours to constitute a day's work, pay for overtime, ex emption from work on Sundays and holidays, the right of promotion and appeal, and all other usual rules. This is the best contract which we have yet secured.

The strike was in force about forty-eight hours and was participated in by about one hundred men.

A REFERENDUM VOTE..

It seems to be the earnest desire on the part of many members throughout the country that a referendum vote upon the question as to whether this organization shall affiliate with the American Federation of Labor or not shall be had in the near future.

Unofficially we are advised that some eight or ten lodges have adopted resolutions requesting that the matter be so submitted to the membership at an early date. From several other sections we have advices to the effect that the members in those localities are very anxious for affiliation and consider such action of urgent importance to the organization. At a recently held meeting of the organization committee of one line, on which several lodges are located, a resolution was adoted to the effect that each lodge be requested to immediately adopt resolutions requesting the Grand Lodge to submit the proposition to a referendum vote of the entire membership, just as soon as it was possible to do so. However, at the present time we are in receipt of such requests from but four or five lodges, and therefore we deem it best to delay the submission of this question to a vote for another thirty days at least, and thus give the membership more time to consider the question and to receive supporting requests from enough lodges to make the movement assume proportions of satisfactory importance.

It is probable that a call for a referendum vote will be issued in the next number of the Railway Clerk and that the vote will be had during the month of March.