Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-05-09
Enlistment OF Railway Employees.

Enlistment OF Railway Employees.
No class of men outside military or
ganizations are so we'll fitted for war as
railway men. They have had the dis
cipline and are accustomed daily to
face danger cope with emergencies ana
carry out their trust. AS a class they
are hard -muscled, sturdy and reliable
They are weather beaten fighters OF the
elements. In the present crisis their
patriotism is already being manifested
by large enlistment. The loss OF men
whom the railroad managers have
learned to trust will be a matter of
great regret and Will cause much havoc
in the mana cement of our railways II
it becomes necessary for the President
to call for large army of volunteers.
However this emergency has been con-
sidered. and from the directory rooms
of our largest systems down to the low
est track hand or apprentice boy 1t is
known that the railroads VIII stand by
their men if they wish to enlist, and
will hold their places open in all cases
until they return from their country's
service. The gap will be filled as we'll
as possible in the meantime. All roads
have given orders as broad as this.
Many have gone further. AS far even
as to offer to hold upon the pay rolls
at full pay all married men who de-
sire to enlist and to credit half pay to
the unmarried men. This stand in
view of the fact that during the Civil
War some roads had to practically
suspend operations owing to the whole
sale enlistment of their men. shows the
liSnnSitinn Of tho M N a nf
railroads today.
| This means that 100000 men-men
| who are men, every one of them--are
| offered to the President in the face of
| the enemy.
| 1t seems not unlikely that history
may repeat itself. a story is told of
a company in a Wisconsin regiment
during the Civil War, that a difficulty
arose in repairing a locomotive in or
der that the troops could be trans
ported. The captain asked that any
man who had had experience either in
repairing or running an engine should
! step forward. The entire company
stepped forward in unbroken ranks.
Enquiries have been addressed to
over two hundred companies. including
all of any size in the country. asking
what position, if any, they are taking
towards the enlistment of their men.
Replies have been received from nearly
all. They cannot all be published here,
but the following samples will suffice:
The mana cement of the Central of
Georgia, unon which falls 50 much of
the burden of the present rush OF
troops towards cuba, says:
MANY of the employees of this COM
| pany at Savannah belong to the mill
tia: they have nearly all volunteered,
and to those who have left US we have
| replied that their positions would be
here for them when they return; at the
| same time we have not thought it ad-
| ViSable To issue a circular or to make
capital out of anything of this kind.
We want our employees to know. from
our actions towards them at all times.
that they are going to be properly
| treated in this as we'll as in every
other matter. and we think that as this
is an established fact, it will not be
necessary to issue any circular regard
ing it,
The following is a copy of the action
taken by the board of directors of the
Bostcn & Maine Railroad April end:
Voted: That any officer or employe
of this company now member of the
National Guard, the volunteer militia
or the naval militia, who by volunteer
ing or under orders enters or has en-
tered upon active military or naval
service under state or federal author
ity. and. uDon being hOnorably dis
charged therefrom, shall be restored to
as good a position in this company s
service as that now held by him.
The Blue Ridge "Dispatch'' not only
agrees to held positions open for en-
ployes but to allow married men full
pay and single men half pay while in
the service of the government.
over fifty companies have sent circu-
lars like the following to the heads of
various departments to be posted and
distributed among their men:
"All officers. agents and employees of
this company who may desire to enter
tary or naval, during the present war
; with Spain. are hereby advised that
they can do so with the assurance that
upon their return, Gf not incapacitated
for duty) the presentation of an honor
] able discharge from such service will
be all that will be required to reinstate
them in the positions vacated and at
. no less salary than that which they
were receiving at the time they vaca-
. ted their positions to enter their coun-
\ try's service"
Other companies have discussed the
matter and are ready to deal with ind-
vidual cases in this manner and have
given orders that the word be passed
alcng that nothing will be put in the
way of man who wishes to enlist. One
hundred companies have responded to
the enquiry TO this effect