and only one place, and that is in the Division

room.

Brothers, nothing disgusts or discourages a set of officers more than non-attendance; all some members seem to think they have to do is elect a set of officers, and let them furnish the quorum and hold their charter, but let one of us lose our job, and we are Johnnie on the spot then, with our grievance and a bunch of papers big enough to fill a gripsack, and our attendance at meeting is simply sublime. If there was anything which would disgust a human, it is to hear the candidate pass a few pleasant remarks about the Order that requests him to present himself for initiation, and is politely informed that there are not enough members present to lead forth the goat. Brother, if, as I say, you could only read his thoughts, you would certainly attend meeting. A new year is almost upon us, and New Year's resolutions are next in line; and why not, in the name of all that is good and brotherly, make a resolution to attend meetings, and by so doing encourage and help your local officers; and I assure you, nothing will do more good for the Order, for, in encouraging them, you also encourage our Grand Officers, by being able to send them prompt and regular reports of meetings, and election of officers, and one member who attends meeting can do more good than a dozen who never come. Now, Brothers, put your shoulders to the wheel; encourage the young men to come and join us; get lots of new, ambitious material into the Order; wake up, and attend meetings. Let us, in all Division rooms, at all meetings, have a quorum ready to vote and initiate a candidate before he attains the age of the lucky man, Rip Van Winkle. Why, no wonder we have to pay high insurance as you call it, when a young man sends in his application it is an age before it is voted on, and another age before enough are gathered together to initiate; and he is an old man before he becomes a member. Brothers, our foundation and insurance is solid and up-to-date, and you get your money's worth; and on this we have no kick.

The old-age limit will never be settled until you attend meetings and unite for the work, and we cannot do this if we do not attend meeting and find out what is going on. Both inscriptions on the American dollar mean much-"united we stand" outside of the lodge room it means the other-how many of you know what e pluribus unum, on the other side of it, means?

What you

are, "one of many," come in, get together, and let us be like the reverse side-united, and standing together; and if you do not attend meeting you are a dead weight to the Order, and you are not doing your duty. None of you can dispute the fact, in the face of the evidence, that non-attendance has been, in the past, and is, at present, the greatest drag to the Order, and I implore you, one and all, the Brothers of all Divisions, give us your New Year's resolution that you will attend meetingsyou owe it to yourselves, as well as the Order.

I sincerely hope you will take this little talk to heart, and, as the shoe men say, if it fits you, wear it, and I challenge any Brother, either in the lodge room or through the columns of THE CONDUCTOR, to advance any argument against this being of

vital importance to the Order, and to each member individually.

Let us, in the New Year, render such an account of ourselves as shall make our Grand Officers proud of us, and where we are few in numbers we will work the harder; and let us make it a pleasure, not a forced duty, to attend meeting. You can, if you will, and, assuring you that all I have said and written has only been with a spirit of brotherly love, and for the good of the Order, and may your bright smiles ever haunt us in the sweet bye and bye. HAPPY HOOLIGAN.

Mt. Carmel, Ill.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

A stranger was strolling along one of the main thoroughfares of our city, and at one of the intersecting streets he came to a halt; he gazed about him in an abstracted way, looked up and down the street, and appeared to be undecided as to where to go or what to do. The time was about 7 P. M.; it had grown dark, the street lamps and electric lights were vieing with each other in an endeavor to keep up a semblance of daylight, people were hurrying to and fro, everyone apparently having somewhere to go, some object in view. As he was standing there his attention was attracted to a magnificent granite building on the opposite side of the street. It was evident to him that something was going to take place within; the building was being illuminated, the lights shone brightly through the windows, the large entrance to the structure was brilliantly lighted, showing a broad stone stairway leading up from the sidewalk. While noting these things he noticed a well-dressed man step briskly up the stairway and enter the building. In a short time he was followed by a half dozen others equally alert. He who had first entered appeared at the doorway minus his top coat and hat. He gazed up and down the street, as if expecting some one. Suddenly his face lighted up, and, stepping down the stairway about half way, he met and shook the hands of a lady and gentleman. He led them up and through the entrance, saying at the same time: "Yes, this is the place; you have made no mistake." They disappeared inside. In a moment he reappeared and met another couple and escorted them inside also. Again he appeared. There were two or three couples to be greeted by him this time, and in looking up and down the street he saw so many people coming he concluded that he could not personally escort them inside, so he directed them as fast as they came, and ushers within the doors took charge of them. They continued to come until past eight o'clock.

He who had observed these goings-on had by this time become interested, and walking slowly across the street, he inquired as to the cause of so many ladies and gentlemen gathering there. and was told that these people whom he had seen entering the building gathered together once each year, on this particular date, to celebrate an event that took place some years previous; renew old acquaintances, and have a royal good sociable time. He inquired if he might enter and observe what was going on, and was politely invited to do

so.

He was taken within and given a seat where he could see and hear everything. He looked about the room, a spacious entertainment hall. He was silent for some time. Turning to his escort he said:

"Pardon me, sir, but you have done me a great honor in permitting me, an entire stranger, to enter here. I do not know how to express my feelings. I am lost in admiration. The smiling,

happy faces of the handsomely gowned ladies, the courtly mien of the knightly appearing gentlemen, is something that I believe makes these people long for the time that brings them together. I wonder they can wait a whole year. It seems to me they would want to mingle oftener; it seems to me that the spirit which prevails amongst a people who bring about such gatherings as this would not permit a year to pass before they met again in social session. By the way, what is the occasion for all this?"

His escort handed him an itinerary of the evening's entertainment, and what he read on the outside cover was the following:

And on opening the cover he found on the inside the program of the entertainment, which was an excellent one. The star number on the list was an address by our worthy Grand Chief Conductor, Brother E. E. Clark, which was listened to with rapt attention, every word that he uttered went straight to our hearts. In the course of his remarks he said:

"Your Division is 21 years old to-day. This reminds us of the young man who when he reaches his 21st birthday is given his freedom; he is his own master, to do as he pleases, so long as he does not transgress the laws of the land or trample on the rights of others. So it is with your Division. You are 21 years of age. I give you your freedom to do as you please, for I have confidence enough in the membership of this Division to know that you would never do anything that would betray the confidence I have in you."

Brother Clark, we appreciate your coming to meet with us, we know that you sacrificed some of your valuable time to be with us. We assure you the confidence you have in us has not been misplaced.

We had with us also our worthy Grand Secretary and Treasurer, Brother W. J. Maxwell, who is a charter member of this Division, and no member of our Division was more pleased to have Brother Clark with us than was Brother Maxwell. Many were the handshakings, and many were the congratulations showered on Brother Maxwell by his friends. Long life to you, Brother Maxwell.

After the entertainment the entire assemblage repaired to the banquet room, where a sumptuous feast had been prepared. The tables were tastefully decorated. An orchestra dispersed delightful music, while the guests were doing justice to the good things provided for them. Everyone was smiling and happy. Everyone had a good

time, and everybody voted that this was our banner anniversary celebration. These are the gatherings that warm our hearts toward each other. These are the gatherings that make us think that life is worth the living. These gatherings make good men better. They tend to raise us in the estimation of the public, who know so little about us socially, and the conductor of to-day takes his place with the citizen in other walks of life, and is just as gentlemanly, just as law-abiding, and just as God-fearing.

Brothers Clark and Maxwell, and Brother William H. Post, who was the first Chief Conductor of Division No. 162, were tendered a reception and dinner in the afternoon by the "Conductors' Cape Charles Club," more popularly known as the "Four C.'s," which was a very enjoyable affair. Toasts were responded to as follows: "The Order," by Brother E. E. Clark; "Our Division," by Brother W. J. Maxwell; "Twenty-one Years Ago," by Brother William H. Post, and "Our Club," by C. E. Wyman. JAY DEE. Philadelphia.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

Will you allow me space just for once in the columns of our so much loved CONDUCTOR to print one little item from Division 431, Greensboro, N. C. Since I have been a member of the O. R. C. more than three years, I have only seen one letter in THE CONDUCTOR from this Division, and we are a wide awake Division with some of the most loyal and true men that the South contains. Loyal to the company, loyal to their families, loyal to their Order, and best of all, loyal to their God, although it does seem that we have been negligent in our correspondence to THE CONDUC

TOR.

I want to tell all the boys of the O. R. C. that 431 has accomplished a great work in this vicinity. She has gone out into the highways and hedges and compelled them to come in. We have reached every sinner in this whole community that has come to the years of accountability, except one, and I don't know just what steps to take to get him to come in to the Order. I have used all my influence and I know some other Brothers have used theirs, or what they thought to be theirs. I don't know what to do with him. He must be a Judas gone off with his Lord's money, but may be when the cock crows thrice he will remember and will weep bitterly, like Peter of old. There are one or two more men in our Division who keep up their dues, but that is all; they never give us their presence. It seems to be with them a source of protection at someone else's expense. What I mean by someone else's expense is that it costs almost every man who attends the Division one or two days each month to attend, and he has to pay his board and lodging, and these Brothers think this is all right, as they will tell you, "Why, he has an office, he ought to go!" I know one Brother belonging to our Order and Division 431 who has not been in the hall since the Division was organized. When trouble comes upon us, such Brothers are the first ones to want to know what is being done to relieve us. Such men remind me of a story I heard

once of a small boy whom a preacher asked what his father followed. The boy said, "He is a Christian, but he don't work at it much." So I must say if these men are Order men they don't work at it much. Brethren, unless we come together, meet with each other, find out what each other needs, and put each shoulder to the wheel, we are going to stall sure, and it will be our fault. I say, boys, come to the meetings; it don't cost you much.

We had a good meeting last Sunday. It was election day. We had a large turnout. Had Brother Rube Moore with us. Some of the Brothers may not know who Brother Moore is, but the So. Ry. people know him. Rube is a good one.

I am going to look for some of these Brothers I have roasted at the O. R. C. hall on next meeting day, because I believe it pays to advertise. Greensboro, N. C. A CORRESPONDER.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

Concord Division 335 is still in the land of existence, and the business of the Division is prospering. Our Division meetings are being quite well attended, especially at this time of the year, just before the November election of officers, and more in particular those who will be elected to serve on our general and local committees. And of these I think we should have the oldest and best men of our Division.

A union meeting was held in Capitol Hall September 24th, the call being for all members in good standing to attend, to which 131 responded, and the most pleasant of all was, we had our Grand Chief Conductor with us on this occasion. Twelve years have passed since his last visit.

Some parts

of our schedule were taken up and discussed at length; also, our general committee was discussed by different visiting members. And in the closing, the question of pensioning old and worn-out employes was discussed at some length. And this is to be taken up some day, later, for final discussion.

At this point Brother Clark took the stand and gave the members of all Divisions, together with local and general committees, sound advice to work upon in the future. In the wrong-doing of our committee work in the last two years he lays as much blame on the members as on the committee men. As we now stand we are without a schedule between the Order and the officials of the B. & M. R. R., and we are in hopes that at the beginning of the new year we will have one of the very best schedules ever gotten up.

Now, Brothers, let us follow the advice given by our Grand Chief Conductor, and work in harmony, and all pull together and bring our Order to the high standing that we had in 1903. What say you? Are you ready, one and all, freight and passenger conductors, to put your shoulders to the wheel and help to build up our Order?

Business on the B. & M. R. R. was never better than at the present time. All our members have plenty of work, and are making very good pay, under the very best railroad management in the United States

Our Brothers are having their annual vacations. I see by a letter written by Backwoods that he

speaks of passenger conductors having two uniforms furnished per year, with brass buttons, and stopping at hotels, and paying half rates. He does not say one word about the comforts furnished for the Brothers in freight service. When he takes his own hotel with him, and sleeps in his own bed, and without any half rate, he does not say one word about the extra expenses of the passenger conductor, as, for instance, laundry bills, etc. Whereas, the freight conductor can wear overalls and jumper, and appear O. K. before the public. We see Brother H. C. Dimrud is on his run again, four days a week, after being off a long time on account of sickness.

How many members have we got that know the lecture, and do they ever think of their obligation as taken before the altar, in a most solemn form? And if so, why not live up to that part of the lecture which calls for manhood, integrity and moral courage? Now, Brothers, if you don't know these parts, come to our next Division meeting, and we will recite them, for your benefit. What say you? Shall we see you? Concord, N. H.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

A. E. BEAN.

This year surely has been a prosperous one for Division 190. We have had so many added to our number, and not one member lost by death. But regret to inform the conductors that Brother C. P. Sinsel, of Grafton Division, is lying at his home at the point of death.

We were glad to see Brother Cooper at our annual election of November 5, 1905, who has been confined to his home by accident.

The conductors are making good time, and the prospects are looking bright for a heavy run of freight in this section.

Brothers, Grafton Division 190 has had election of officers, and we selected for our officers what we consider the best timber or among the best timber, West Virginia can afford. They are of the royal blue, without a blemish. If you hear of some of the West Virginia people taking to the tall timber you need not be surprised.

May happiness and success attend every member of our noble Order, and may we all go forward in our beloved cause. J. D. RILEY.

Grafton, W. Va.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

A few lines from Division 223:

We are still able to meet the Brothers in the Division room when opportunity affords. A kind

of lassitude seems to have crept over the Order of Railway Conductors. Like all organized bodies, they seem to have gotten all they want and are willing to sit down and hold their hands and let a few do the work. It is not only in organizations of our kind, but we find it creeping into the churches; the great majority stay at home and let the few transact the business. We are sorry that such should be the case, but some day they will find they have not been running on schedule time and consequently are not going to make the meeting point.

There is one other reason why I wanted to write this letter. In looking over the Fraternal columns of the last CONDUCTOR, I see it is very short on communications. What has become of all the correspondents? Where is "Grandpa" of the blue grass regions and Brother Lyon of 413? Have they all been laid in the shade or have they become incensed at the action of our last Grand Division? If so, I think they are making a mistake, for if the Order at large thinks the law enacted by the Grand Division at Portland is a bad one they have a remedy, but I don't think the Grand Officers or a member of that Grand Body who helped to pass the enforcement bill had any thought at the time of doing a wrong to old or young members of the Order. Admitting it will work a hardship to some, I think every old and deserving member will be looked after-that part of the matter rests much with the local Divisions.

We have had no visit yet from our worthy Brother Sheppard, but have looked for him and would like to have him come.

The year has been so prosperous we hardly know how or where to begin to be thankful to the good Master for the many and untold blessings that have been sent unto the people of our land.

Division 223 has not grown much in the year past, but not being a regular terminal we do not have much material to work on. We have taken in several members.

The boys on the B. & O. R. R. seem to be doing well, as the freight traffic was never better in the history of the road; and as long as business is good, men are not likely to kick-only the grumpy J. W. RANKIN.

ones.

Martinsburg, W. Va.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

Yesterday was our annual election of officers of Lincoln Division 206, and certainly a swell time. and a good bunch were there, with 31 conductors present. Brother W. P. Sheehan (Commodore, the old war-horse) re-elected secretary and treasurer, also legislative representative.

Many accidents and fatalities have occurred in our midst in railroad circles in past few weeks, and the C. P. and St. L. is the main actor.

Brother J. W. Woods now lies in Springfield hospital, hovering between life and death, as the result of train 45 breaking in two and running together.

Many changes have been made on the various roads running through Springfield, some men coming and some going.

Brother H. T. Mullins, we understand, has been appointed G. Y. M. at Chickasaw, I. T., and is doing fine; and we are glad to hear it.

We were all glad to welcome and reobligate back into our ranks Brother Stephen Ryan, of the Wabash, the first Chief Conductor Lincoln Division ever had.

We now look forward to the new year as a very pleasing and prosperous one, owing to the fact that all our adjustment committees have been reconstructed, and our best material has been placed in charge, and are now ready to wrestle with all kicks "MOSES."

Springfield, Ill.

Editor Railway Conductor:

The recent adjustment of rates of the Royal Arcanum has virtually eliminated the older members and left them without protection after having paid for nearly twenty-five years, and now we are too far advanced in life's race to get protection from other sources. And while on the subject of age, it reminds me that I see a great deal in the CONDUCTOR about the age limit, but I am not surprised at the action of the railroads in adopting the limit, for in looking over the laws of our M. B. D. I find an Osler clause and do not think it allegorical when I see the inconsistency. Dr. Osler allows a man 60 years while the M. B. D. knocks them out at 50. I did not join the M. B. D. in my younger days, because I had all the insurance I could carry and now when I need it I find I have been here too long to enjoy the fruits of fraternalism. I am not too old to pay dues and keep the Order prosperous, thereby giving the M. B. D. the elixir, but am too old to enjoy the elixir. [The M. B. D. gets not one penny of your money, nor of any other Brother who does not belong to it.-ED.] Brothers, let up on the railroads for adopting your course or change your creed. We should at least try to be consistent, "and why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye."

Major, of Cambrage, in the August CONDUCTOR, strikes from the shoulders in speaking of revolt, for we have men who are afflicted with the same misfortune. We have some also who seem to care nothing for the interest of the company, but only live to greet the pay car-any other meeting point is distasteful. They get fair wages, and the work, while irksome at times, is not more trying than other occupations for similar compensation, and they should perform their duty to the best of their ability and with a cheerfulness born of a duty; as long as they accept the position they should be willing to give value received. We also agree with Major that all officials have not the swell head, but some of the Brothers think every order emanating from a new official is to display his authority. They forget that conditions change, thereby making new orders necessary. If our young men would consider this and not object to every order but try to execute them, they would soon see the benefits of their efforts and things would work more satisfactorily for all concerned.

The recent slump in the cotton market has caused a slump in business and the boys are feeling its effect, for business is not what it should be. The farmers are able to hold for a better figure and are doing so to the chagrin of the freight crews, who get three or four days off at each end thereby making only about two full weeks in thirty days, which was not the case when the season first opened, as then they made two trips per day. Other than above the conditions are all that could be desired, for we meet freight trains daily that are so heavy they cannot get on the side track, so it runs the passenger on the siding and consequently we seldom reach our destination on time, and that allows the kickers an opportunity to ventilate their wrath.

In the September CONDUCTOR Brother Quisenberry of 152 relates a sad narrative of the treat

ment he received from his Brother conductors while confined in the hospital at Clifton Forge. It is such as should bring the blush of shame to the cheek of every Brother that was in Clifton Forge during his disability. Especially is this so when we read in the October CONDUCTOR the treatment accorded Brother Beisleigh at Portland, Me. "Look on this picture and then on that." Where

do we find a foundation for our boasted southern hospitality; and particularly is this sad when it occurred in a state that has a fame as broad as the universe. I guess it must have been quite lonely for the Virginia Brother, as in over two months he had one visitor, while the Brother from the frozen Maine in five months had 323, or over two each day. Have our warm southern hearts frozen? or what is the trouble? Conditions without a doubt have been reversed. Think of the heart gladness of our Virginia Brother if some one had carried him flowers, fruits, books, etc, as he sat lonely for over two months and only one Brother had the nerve to call and he was an Odd Fellow. Yes, very odd, his name should be handed down, and if I knew him I would congratulate him through the CONDUCTOR. Secretary Harriss of 152, with two nights a week in Clifton Forge, could not have done better than to have called; he should at least have paid some heed to his obligation. The Virginia Brother has a right to complain, and when he says "something is lacking" he has the hearty endorsement of every well wisher of the Order. But such treatment is calculated to impair the stability and make us an organization of personal advantage instead of a fraternal organization. As a fraternal organization we should put aside personal consideration and take the part that leans to our obligation, otherwise we are not fulfilling the part for which we ask the "blessing of the Most High." Wilmington, N. C. LAFAYETTE.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

As it is some time since Division 56 has had any space in your columns, I thought it would be well enough to let you know we were here and busy. We are getting all that is coming to us just now, anyway the grievance committee seems to be out of work and nothing in sight. All runs are posted for bids, and I do not hear anyone say he did not get a square deal. Quite a number of our members have been on passenger trains this summer, during the vacation rush, and I see that they are drifting back to their old runs on freight as the season of 1905 draws to a close.

The action of the Convention, in making all members of the insurance hold membership in the nearest Division, seems to meet with the approval of our members, and we are taking in quite a number of old ones that have been dropped because of change of run or other causes and neglected to transfer, but now they are getting back in line again, and we are glad to see them, and know that they still hold the insurance with us, and they and their families have the best insurance known for railroad men. We have the privilege of investigating the officers having the business in charge, and do not have any high-salaried officers dividing our money among themselves. We know our money is applied as the law directs, and policy

holders get their money as soon as they can prove up as the law requires, and without going to law and spending half of it.

We are at present having a long wait to see if our governor will comply with the statutes, as we view it, and put a practical railroad man on the Commission, as we claim that ex-Governor David B. Hill is the only governor that has ever complied with the law which states that at least one of the Commissioners shall be a practical railroad man. Gov. Hill appointed an engineer. Now, we have presented the name of an old conductor, and are waiting rather impatiently to see what will happen

next.

About our Division officers: You have been notified by the secretary of the two principal ones, no doubt, but you should see the rest of them. Say, it would pay you to come out and see our K. act as inside sentinel. There are others, but, on reflection, I think I will not mention any names, as some people get jealous very easy. The Chief went up to the north woods and stayed until those say, who saw him first, that there was moss on his back and leaves in his hair from camping out. I also met him since his return, but do not think it was balsam that I smelled on him.

Now, in closing this letter. let me say to the members of Division 56: The Company seems to be trying to live up,to the contract with us. How is it with you? Are you living up to the contract? Do you handle the property entrusted to your care carefully, and live up to the Book of Rules given out by the company as your guide? Do you watch the bulletin board for special orders, and do your part to make this the safest and best railroad in this country, just because O. R. C. men are running the trains, and can be depended upon to do the work right and protect the company's interests so the people can feel that freight and passengers are in safe hands that can be trusted to do what is right? If you are not doing this, you are not living up to the Order of which you are a member. Remember that when a contract is broken by one party the other is not bound by it. Now, let's get busy.

Albany, N. Y.

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Editor Railway Conductor:

2 FOR 5.

Since my last letter death has claimed one of our oldest members, Brother Henry M. Hanbury, who was killed in wreck at Blocton Junction, September 18, 1905. Brothers and Sisters all over the country who have at any time in recent years attended the Grand Division will doubtless be grieved to hear of the death of Brother Hanbury, and will sympathize with Sister Hanbury, as they have attended all Grand Divisions in recent years.

Only a week before Brother Hanbury was killed his brother, A. A. Hanbury, was initiated into our Division, and proves how true it is that we know not what hour the slender thread may be cut.

Col. A. B. Bayless was very kind to all our conductors, allowing them, the out-of-town men, to get in for the funeral, and allowing the men running out of Birmingham to get in in time to attend.

The Engineers attended the funeral, as did also Col. Bayless and Mr. Wm. Williams, M. of T. and Asst. M. of T. respectively.