The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-13

reason without their host. The conductors get
on more amiably with women passengers than
old man Of fine personal appearance with bun
ions and corns on HE feet. He can't stand up.
touches him on his tender point he invariably
takes, tho conductors number and sends in q
S SU@Risi That a tSoy Ike S Women nG ps, sensoS.G better sSs
or course, tho woman who, when she gets on in
Harlem, tells tho conductor TO put her on at
takes her to Eighth. taxes his number and
threatens to make n complaint, annoys him
Perhaps this H woman Wouidin't report tho man il
she stopped to think that maybe he had q vile
iosins f II. 3oS wS S a make his Sn FAMILY niM @ misc ale.
Tho conductor Is more aggressive with men pas.
songers than women. III man passenger jumps
on him about anything Immediately the man
spirit shows itself. and tho conductor has hard
work to restrain himself, and, Of course. doesn't
rest Of mankind.
The men have organized themselves into tho
Metropolitan Street Railway Association. which
now has over 5000 members, This is both q
business. and n social organization. II supports
a mutual benefit fund, insures its own members
and attends to its sick. 1t 10 In possession OF q
circulating library OF over 1000 volumes. On
the shelves are to be found not only light litern-
turc, but Ill the text books available on the sub
ject OF electricity. street car construction, man
agcment and operation. Tho library is over the
esnp;oT Si attsd u ssr' Tbs sn assoeintiom Also has
a large hall there where It gives entertain,
ments. The majority Of the motormsn and
,DAid Wv hia Wv hoN Sh'
Their families uso the library also. AS yet the
library is an experiment, but we have reason to
OF course q great many Of the men never have
and never will read aiythinR; but on tho other
band a great many devour the books Quite g 2
mon Themselves never take very kindly to the
open for their wives and children.
soon after this association was formed 1t
began to manifest It's social needs. There was .
little more money In the treasury than was
necessary to take care Of the families OF Its dead
have monthly entertainments In their hall. The
first year they employed professional talent, but
experience taught them that this was an un.
own ranks much better talent, than could. be
employed. The association began to fur
few outsiders who have been permitted
to attend ono Of their vaudeville, shows
never forget it; Really I'm sure that no
anywhere as these men furnish ut their monthly
Entertainments l took some friends to ono the
Joke on me. The performers didn't know I was
there. The programmo was moving along
Ing bouts, ss ei%S swinging " exhibiti iSass wre Is
ling matches, piano, harp. violin, flute; cornet
and mandolin PLAYING. recitstions.s sketches and
out and did some OF tho finest dancing to be
seen anywhere. He was encored and he came
stage before doing a second turn. A motorman
In the audience called ont, Say. Barney, don't
DC so Tree Win your Sanu.
".Hcll!, tho dancer yelled back In q flash,
What do | carci It's company sand
My friends haven't quit guying mo about
"A striking indication of the improvement In
tho employees regard for the employer is evinced
by tho fact that OF its own volitiOn this Metro
politan Street Railway Association. which has
no other connection with the corporation Itself
than that it is IA condition of membership that a
man must be in the employ of the company. has
invested its surplus in the securities Of the Met
ropolitan Railway Company. Every man Of EN-
Is not only informed. but finds by actual expert
upon his individual effort and nobody's favor.
The whole attitude OF the employees is changed,
and the ambition OF the vast majority is to re-
selves to The head of the company. and secure us
a recognition of their loyal service promotion
in rank and increased pay.
THE Sun recently printed q lettor from n
citizen and commented editorially upon the fact
therein disclosed that a polite conductor had
been found upon one of tho lines of the com.
have that the men appreciate the changed con-
ditions under which they arc working is the
ceive. unsolicited, from some citizen a letter
men. It is true that such letters do
for, l get hundreds from old women
and young women and old men and young mon
making loud complaints against the utter lack
of memory on the part Of the conductor. who. in
the hurry and hustle Of collecting a hundred
fares. forgot to let them off when they told him
get yexed- because tho cars slide beyond tho
crossings whom the day is bad and the track
slippery, and SO it goes
are driven by power and passengers have
nerves, that perfect accord will ever be esLab.
iished between motormen and conductors and
ances. But. like Brother Jasper. / am convinced
that she do move. and that a great advance has
tween my men ami the 800. 900 persons with
whom they como in daily contact"