Clarksburg, W. Va., May 29th, 1907. Resolution adopted at the last meeting of Lodge No. 113:

Be It Resolved, That the Grand President and Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks be and are hereby authorized and instructed to call for a referendum vote to change the Constitution and By-Laws of the Grand Lodge in connection with the issuance of the semiannual password.

It is the sense of Clarksburg, W. Va., Lodge No. 113 that a quarterly password would materially benefit the entire Brotherhood, inasmuch as it would limit the time that a member who falls in arrears or is suspended has the privilege of entering a sister lodge where his standing is now known, but having the semi-annual password may gain admittance to the detriment of the Brotherhood.

I was exceedingly sorry to learn from Brother Thompson that you were not well. I trust, however, that your indisposition will be of short duration.

The Order of Railway Conductors are still in session and I have had very little sleep since they began to assemble here. They have been treated royally by all Railway and Fraternal organizations, but no organization, not even their local division here, has given anything to equal the entertainment given by Memphis Lodge No. 40, Brotherhood of Railway Clerks on last Sunday evening at San Souce Grove, in the shape of a barbecue, speech-making and clog dancing by two little girls twelve years old. We had a union orchestra and everything passed off magnificently. I estimated the crowd at fifteen hundred people, but the street car company say they hauled twenty-two hundred to the park and twenty-two hundred back to town. I expect their estimate is nearer correct than mine. This park being a private park, no one is allowed to go inside without permission from the owner, and being a very good friend of the Clerks he kindly donated the use of the grounds.

You can readily see what an undertaking it was to feed that number of people and treat everybody right to prevent a possibility of a kick from any source. The Clerks did this without outside help other than the assistance of the Ladies' Auxiliary, and we have received nothing but praise from every side. Even the Railway agents opened their eyes; two of them came over to inquire if every man having a B. of R. C. Memphis Lodge No. 40 on his coat lapel was a member of the Railway Clerks, and I answered them by saying they were as no one who was not a member in good standing could wear our colors; and told them furthermore, that what they saw only represented about forty per cent of the membership. Their reply was "this is the finest thing we ever saw, and we certainly want to congratulate the Clerks on this entertainment."

We made a streamer of bunting around the grand stand and had painted in the center two hands, one clasping the other in friendship; on one side the letters "O. R. C.," and on the other "B. of R. C." Our speakers, two excellent lawyers, and friends. of organized labor, had grasped the idea of our intention and advocated, in the addresses of welcome, to "get together," as those hands indicated, and dwelling at some length on the theory that in "Union there is Strength," and without that union there could be no strength.

Numerous conductors said they had heard of the organization but did not realize that it was a wide-awake organization such as they had seen in Memphis. I wish you could have seen for yourself the friendly feeling that the Conductors showed. One requested me to send him some literature and a few copies of the next months' Clerk, which I promised him I would do. I have his card and will send it to you in a few days. I can truthfully say that the Order has received more advertising from this outing than we could have gained in any other way. We are known now all over the North American Continent and I believe what Memphis. Lodge has spent on this undertaking will be beneficial to the order in general, and I know it will be beneficial to this lodge. I look for a large increase in membership in the next thirty days. My only regret is that you could not see what I saw. I cannot describe it to you on paper, only in a very small and unintelligent way; but thought. I would write you and make you feel good

over what I think are good prospects. I may be mistaken, but don't believe I am.

With best wishes, I remain,
Yours fraternally,

JNO. J. CARRIGAN. 1247 Miss. Boulevord, Memphis, Tenn.

NOW IT'S A FARMERS' UNION.

An Association to Combat Control of Prices by Speculators.

Topeka, May 18.-"We have caused two blades of grass to grow where only one grew before-and now we want pay for that extra blade."

That is the slogan of many thousand Kansas farmers who, represented by delegates, will meet at Hutchinson May 21. for the purpose of effecting a state organization of the Farmers' Educational and Co-operative Union of America-an organization of national scope, which has since it was founded four years ago spread from an insignificant beginning in Rains county, Texas, to repre sentation in more than half of the states of the Union, with an aggregate membership of over one million farmers.

There are now about 225 lodges or “locals” as they are termed, in Kansas. The total Kansas membership is about 6,000-it must be at least 5,000 under the terms of the constitution, before state organization can be effected. Thus far there has been no state organization in Kansas, the subordinate locals being governed by the national board -a sort of territorial form of government.

While there is more or less similarity of general principles, the Farmers' Union differs materially in detail from the Farmers' Alliance, the Wheel, the Grange and other organizations. It is radically different from the Society of Equity, which is now spreading over some parts of the United States. in the matter of credentials for membership. The Farmers' Union has an irrevocable rule against admitting to membership persons engaged in any calling except farming-the only exceptions being that ministers of the gospel, rural mechanics and editors of farm papers may join, under certain conditions. Lawyers, bankers, merchants and manufacturers are positively barred under all circumstances. The Society of Equity, although designed primarily as a farmers' organization, invites bankers, merchants, lawyers and others regardless of occupation to enter into membership.

No Politics in This.

Politics is barred from the Farmers' Union, it being held that other organizations which have flourished for a time, only to fail in the end, have as a rule been wrecked upon the rock of politics.

Briefly summed up, the general purposes of the Farmers' Union, as set forth in the official literature, are as follows:

To enable the farmers to meet conditions caused by the banding together of speculators who are engaged in the distribution of farm products.

To establish justice and to secure equity-in short, to apply the Golden Rule.

To discourage the credit and mortgage system. To eliminate the middleman and to co-operate with members in buying and selling.

To eliminate gambling in farm products by boards

of trade.

To teach the proper classification of crops and to promote scientific farming.

There is a social side to the Farmers' Union and women whose husbands, brothers, fathers or other male relatives belong are eligible to membership without charge. The initiation fee for men is $2 and the dues are 10 cents per month, consequently the organizers who go about seeking recruits find their work easy. There are now about twenty organizers in various parts of Kansas and it is estimated by the first of next year the union membership in Kansas will be swelled to from 10,000 to 15,000.

It is expected that the forthcoming state convention will bring to Hutchinson nearly 1,000 delegates and visitors, including many farmers who will be present as spectators. The railroads have recognized the occasion by granting an excursion rate from all Kansas points to Hutchinson and return. Inasmuch as the primary purpose of the Hutchinson meeting is the election of state officers and the transfer of union government from the national board to the state, the national officers will be in attendance. They are Charles S. Barrett, Atwater, Ga., president; J. E. Montgomery, Gleeson, Tenn., vice-president; R. H. McCulloch, Beebe,

Ark., secretary-treasurer.

President Barrett is said to be the most wealthy farmer in Georgia. There was a time when he plowed corn and blistered his hands pouring leather into refractory mules, but of late years his success has been so great that he now tills his vast plantation by means of hired help. He declared that his success as a farmer is due to the application of business system. President Barrett now A spends all of his time in field work. month ago he was in New York laying down the law to cotton brokers. telling them exactly what the Southern farmer wants and what he doesn't want. Just now he is in Washington and Oregon looking after preliminaries incident to the organization of those states.

Texas Leads in Membership.

In point of membership and results achieved, Texas takes lead of all other Farmer's Union states. The Texas membership now number 250,000 approximately, and new organizations are being brought in daily. Last year's increase in the price of cotton was the direct result of the application of Famers' Union principles. The cotton growers wanted 11 cents. The cotton buyers shook their heads significantly and declared they would never pay it. The cotton growers made no attempt to argue the question, but simply stored their product in co-operatively owned warehouses and then bluntly announced:

"Cotton crop of Texas locked up. Key lost. When price gets up to 11 cents, we'll find key."

After much sweating and after many overtures, the cotton buyers decided to pay 11 cents. Then the warehouse doors were unlocked and the crop moved. It is proposed to apply the same method to corn, wheat, potatoes and other products.

"It takes muscle to raise a crop; it takes brains to sell it for what it is worth."

That bit of philosophy is repeated over and over by the farmers, but the selling of crops is by no means the limit of what the union proposes to do. Equally as much attention is given to purchasing such supplies as cannot be raised on the farm. For instance, believing that the price of clothing is too high in proportion to the selling price of wool and cotton, the farmers have banded together in the operation of a co-operative woolen mill, which is located at Albuquer que, N. M., under the direct management of Johnny H. Bearup, who is familiarly known as "Uncle Johnny." The stock is owned by farmers all over the United States, and the motto of the management is:

"Sheep's back to your back," which is a terse way of indicating that there is no raiddleman profit to pay. This enterprise was located at Albuquerque because of the fact that New Mexico is primarily a sheep rais ing country and the wool may be obtained directly from the men who own the sheep and who do the shearing. A large force of tailors is employed and clothing made to or der is shipped to any part of the United States to those who own a share or more of stock in the concern.

The Albuquerque mills were under way when President Roosevelt made his last visit to the Southwest, and President Bearrup made the chief executive a present, in the name of the stockholders, of a wild West hunting suit.-K. C. Star.

VISITED BOSTON LODGE.

Local Brotherhood of Railway Clerks Royally Entertained.

A score of the members of Providence Lodge, No. 103, Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, journeyed to Boston last evening as the guests of Boston Lodge, No. 119, which was recently organized with a membership of nearly 200. Upon their arrival at the South Station the party from this city was met by a committee and escorted to the Y. M. C. A. Hall, at Warren Bridge, where a spread awaited them, which was thoroughly enjoyed.

At the conclusion of the festivities the visitors attended the meeting of the lodge in the B. of L. E. Hali.

President G. H. Streeter presided at the meeting, assisted by President Jerry Bullivan, of Old Colony Lodge, No. 143, of Boston, and Past President Charles L. Fanning, of Providence Lodge, No. 103. Six candidates were given the degree of initiation, the degree team from the lodge of this city officiating, and with their natty white uniforms, with gold trimming, made a very pleasing appearance.

In this issue will be found a good likeness. of Brother S. A. Rumsey of Ft. Smith, Ark.. who will, we are sure, be remembered by all who attended our Houston Convention and especially by the ladies that were in attendance as visitors and the officers and delegates of the Ladies' Auxiliary.

Brother Rumsay was one of the visitors that seemed very desirous of making himself just as useful as he was ornamental and delegated himself a committee of one to see that the Auxiliary and their visitors were entertained every moment during their stay in Texas.

Our records show that Brother Rumsay has been a faithful member of the Brotherhood for about two years and we "suspect" that he is now laying plans for his appearance at Toledo in 1908 for we have heard that he pledged his word of honor that he would be there to look after the welfare of the ladies who are fortunate enough to get to go to Toledo and we feel sure that he will keep his promise.

B. of R. C. Arguments, urging organization, are very forcible, and they will greatly expedite your movement in the right direction if you will only give them a chance to work upon you.

THE AB C'S OF RAILROADS.

PLAIN FACTS BY JUDGE GAYNOR AT THE KNIFE AND FORK DINNER.

The Iron Roads Are as Much Public High-
ways as the Dirt Roads, He Says—A
Slap at Rockefeller and at
Judges Who Took Passes.

There is no prejudice in this country against honestly acquired weath. however large. It is wealth acquired infamously which is under the ban of the splendid intelligence and integrity of the people of this country.

If, then, certain individuals in a short life time become possessed of so much property that they can give away, for instance, the vast sum of 32 million dollars in one gift without feeling it, we may make a fatal mistake if we ascribe such a condition to prosperity.

You therefore perceive that our iron roads are not private roads, but public highways. The corporations, nor the individuals who control the corporations which run them, cannot do with them as they will. They are mere trustees or agencies of government, of the people of the state or nation.

Just think for a minute of these public highways of the country, open to all on absolutely equal terms by the very law of their being, being used to enable a few men to destroy their business rivals. It is the basest crime of our day and generation.

This unholy fund (referring to discriminatory freight rates) enabled them to destroy their rivals. Just think of a debate got up even by ministers of the gospel whether money thus acquired is tainted.

And even some of our judges-"tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askalon"-had their passes or rode in private cars.

My

Some have come to the conclusion that government should take the railroads and run them in order to end the abuse. own view, which I express with diffidence, is that it is only necessary for government to appoint the general freight agent of every railroad, for he could stop all rate favoritism at once.

Naming no names, Justice William J. Gaynor of the appellate division of the supreme court of New York attacked John D. Rockefeller in so pointed a manner at the Knife and Fork club dinner recently that none of his hearers could mistake the allusion. He also made the point that railroads or iron highways were just as much public highways as toll wagon roads or dirt roads and that everyone had a right to use them at the same rates of toll without discrimination. In citing examples to illustrate his points he gave local interest by telling of the trust absorbing the Hutchinson salt industry. Judge Gaynor's subject was "Our Railroads are Public Highways, not Private Roads."

Though Judge Gaynor did not begin to speak until after 10 o'clock, and continued for an hour, no one became tired of the address, and the applause which was brought forth by every strong statement showed that there was practically unanimous agreement with him among the 200 members of the club who were present.

Judge Gaynor is a quiet, easy speaker. There was no attempt at spread-eagle oratory. He is not that kind of man. His voice is clear and pleasant to hear, though not strong. He rarely hesitates for a choice of words. His language is simple. His manner is that of a man seeking to convince with plain, clear reasoning, rather than of a public speaker seeking to create a good impression of himself. Before beginning his prepared speech the judge expressed emphatic approval of the Knife and Fork club's custom of having simple dinners without wines.

Democratic Praise of Roosevelt.

"In New York such a dinner and such an audience as this is impossible," he said. "There they must have wines and liquors and plenty of them, and before the speaking begins the diners are not in fit condition to listen to anything except the stories of a Chauncey Depew. If a man should attempt to deliver a scholarly and thoughtful address after a New York dinner, half the auditors would get up and leave before the speaker got fairly started.

"We have waited a long time for a man to get into the White house with the intelligence to see the truth of the great crime of railroad discrimination, and the bravery to stand for the right thing against the pow erful influences that are opposed to this policy. Mr. Roosevelt is a remarkable man -more remarkable than we know--but our children will know better than we. He has gone through all the entanglements compassing the problem and has put his finger squarely on the great evil of this day.

"They say Roosevelt is a dangerous man. He has not a friend on Wall street. But he is not dangerous to any honest man. He is only dangerous to those men who want to misuse the public highways for unfair and dishonest acquirement of wealth. He has started a great movement, and has compelled a reluctant Congress to pass. laws to stop the great wrong of the age, and he will succeed if he only has time. I strongly hope his successor will be the kind of man who will continue his policies to the end. This may sound strange, coming from a New York Democrat, but I believe the man in public office who is carrying on such a work as President Roosevelt is doing should receive support and encouragement from every honest man."

Continuing in his prepared speech Judge Gaynor said in part:

"There is no prejudice in this country against honestly acquired wealth, however large. There is no hatred of the poor for those who possess honest wealth. It is wealth acquired infamously which is under the ban of the splendid intelligence and integrity of the people of this country.

"No one will dispute that justice requires that the total product of industry should be fairly divided among those who produce it. The prime object of government is to promote this distributive justice to all. Without this object being fulfilled there can be no true prosperity.