St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-20
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY
ASSOCIATION EXTENDING
IT'S USEFULNESS.
MUTUAL AID AND Benefit
PROMOTION OF CLOSER PER-
SONAL RELATIONS ONE OF
ITS OBJECTS.
INCREASING THE MEMBERSHIP
Proposal to Establish Il Circulate
ing Library of Practical
Railway. Publications..

AT Knights Of Pythias hall, corner
OF First avenue and Fifth street
southeast, Minneapolis, an impor-
tant meeting was held last night. 1t
was the first general gathering of
the Great Northern Railway aSsocia-
ton, and also the first series of sim
liar meetings to be held alternately
in the two cities durinb the fall and
winter months. To G o b report
er O. o. Winter, a member of the
board of directors, outlined the gen.
aral plan of the organization at some
length. 1t is of the mutual aid order
as we'll as being for social pleasure
and intellectual advancement.
Through its instrumentaIity, it is
hoped, the employees of the Great
Northern company will not only be
brought into closer personal relations
all around, but will also be led to
take a more decided interest in their
work and in the success of the vari-
Gus departments. Applicants for
membership in the association can
be accepted by any meeting, but
must then be approved by the board
bership each man becomes eligible
to sick and death benefits-is, in fact,
insured for a certain amount, and in
case of death an assessment will be
levied on the membership to pay the
certificate
1t is also proposed to establish a
circulating library, to be made up
in large part of standard works on
subjects pertaining to railroad build
ing, operation and management.
This library will most likely be To-
Gated in the vicinity of the Great
Northern shops in st. Paul, although
this point is not definitely decided
as yet. Use of the books will be free
to all members of the association.
The social and intellectual features
will be cared for by means of literary
and musical entertainments and the
presentation of lectures and papers
by gentlemen of reputation in the
different avocations.
AS yet the Great Northern railway
association is in active operation only
on the Willmar division; but as this
division practically embraces all of
the intermediates points, including st.
Paul and Minneapolis, it has secured
quite a large and active membership.
J. w. Morrison, yardmaster, st. Paul,
is president, and A. D. Betcher, agent
at Como station, is secretary. The
projectors of the association express
the opinion that the idea will grow and
spread, not only to the other divisions
of the Great Northern, but also to
other railroad systems in the West,
and will eventually take the place Of
all other organiza tons of railroad en-
ployes. This hope is based on its all
embracing character-for men from
any branch. of the service are eligible
to membership-ando on the advantages
offered for intellectual Improvement
and for certain financial aid in the
event of sickness or death.
At last nights meeting the st. Paul
employees were represented by about
200 men, old and young, bosses, me-
chanics and laborers, who went over
in special train of three coaches.
When they walked into the hall at
Minneapolis it was already pretty well
filled, but seats were provided Tor
everybody, and a very fine programme
was rendered Rev. Thomas Nc
Clary, of Minneapolis, delivered
Drlef lecture on SullSIllllS III Iietpoi,
and he made a decided hit with the
| audience. He emphasized the thought
that men must face their duties in
life with courage and with hope; that
| they must cultivate a noble selfhood,
| to be made up of a good physical ma
| ture. which must be cultivated by
avoiding dissipation, and by working
in a spirit of true manliness. A good
| intellectual nature and a good moral
nature ne held to be no less needfui,
| so that men would work intelligently
| and be faithful to their employers and
| themselves in the small details as we'll
as in the largest operations. The
reverend gentleman interspersed his
| talk with numerous anecdotes that
were as pointed as humorous.
The Great Northern quartette, COM
mosed of Messrs. William F. and
| James Myron, j. E. Chisholm and E.
| p. McCaffrey, was on the programme
| for several numbers, and, as usual,
they were encored each time. M. B.
Hoff. agent at Minneapolis, sang a
| solo, and had to repeat. Casey at the
| Bat was recited in good style by P. j.
Sheridan most interesting feature
| was a brief but well-written paper on
Station Operation" by t: A. Brann,
| of Minneapolis. This was but the first
| practical papers on the dlnerent de-
| partments of a railroad
| 1t was late when the gathering ad-
| journed, and everybody was pleased
| beyond measure at the successful in
auguration of what it is hoped to nake
| a distinct and valuable feature of the
| Great Northern system.
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