Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-10
MONTAGUE THE MAN.
WILL RE Placed AT HEAD or THE
LABOR BUREAU.
WELL-KNOVH UNION VORKIEGxAs.
For Several Years Past a Mecbani-
cal Draughtsman at the Richmond
Loco@otive-yvorks-sketch OF His
Cnreer.


Mr.. Archer p. Montague, probably be-
fore another week passes. viii be made
the Commissioner OF the Bureau OF
Labor statistics.
rnere are a great number of applicants,
but that Mr.. Montague Is TO be the
successful one is well assured. Governor
ISfer was asked yesterday IL ne would be
appointed. He was silent a moment, and
then replied with characteristic Joke.
winch was rar from being satisfactory
reply.
Tnere is no doubt, however, as TO tho
appointment Of Mr.. Montague; so certain
is It, indeed. that 1t may be announced
as an absolute fact.
Mr.. Montague is a mechanical draughts-
man at the Richmond Locomotive-Wo
He has been with this company several
years. but is a native OF Bristol, having
been born there twenty-eight years ago.
HIS father was for thirty years a con-
ductor on the Norfolk and Western, and
at the time OF his death. when his son
was only boy. was probably the oldest
employee In the service of the company.
BEGINNING IN LIFE
When Is years of age, Mr.. Montague
began his apprenticeship in mechanical
engineering in the shops Of the Grand<
Trunk railway, OF Canada, starting OUT
as a rivet-beater He left tho Grand
Trunk in 1890 to come 10 Roanoke. where
he worked with the Norfolk and Westernt
and afterwards went to Bristol. where hd
was assistant superintendent of the street
railway company. He afterwards went
to Radrord in the employ Of the Norfolk
and Western, and while there Was elects
ed secretary of the International Assbs
ctat,on of Machinists. de became quito
prominent in labor circles at this time
and highly popular also. owing to hie
having been a member of delegation OF
workIngmen which waited on Major A.
H. Sands, the general manager OF thu
Norfolk and Western, and succeeded In
having him restore a reduction OF 10 per
cent, which had been made in the wages
OF employees
AS AN ARBITRATOR.
Ii was while in the employ of the Nor
folk and Western that Mr.. Montague 4
superiors observed his aptitude and pro-
fciency, and transferred him 10 the de-
partment where he could exercise his
talent Tor UtSndnltdi uTdWiHbs t1u ulst''7
rapid progress in this department, and
stood high with the company when he
left il about four years ago to enter tho
employ OF the Richmond Locomotive-
Works He has been mechanical
draughtsman there ever since, but viii
resign TO accept the position of Labor
Commissioner.
Mr.. Montague Is treasurer OF the Dis
trict Lodge Of the Machinists Associa :
ton. and is endorsed by the lodges at
Richmond. Roanoke, Rsdford, Bristol.
and Buefield. He hass besides, the very
highest recommendations from prominent
businessmen OF Richmond and other
cities OF the State.
Mr.. Montague has been the support OF
his mother and sister ever since the death
OF his father, who. by the way, was =
member of the celebrated Stonewau
Brigade Mss. Montague and her daugh-
ter reside In Bristol.
A REPRESENTATIVE W0RKlNGMAN.
Self-made. self-reliant. honest, indus
trious, intelligent, Mr.. Montague Is hne
tvpe of the Virginia workingman. and
his brethren all over the State may feel
assured that IL IL is possible TO make the
office beneficial TO them II Will be dohe
under his administration. The salary at
tached TO the office IS only $500 year.
which is less than no receives In MS
present position, but he gives II up In
order To the better devote his energies
IN the obliteration OF the differences be-
tween employer and employee ana ini-
nrovinp the condition of the workingmen.
|