The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-11
Opening Meeting of the New
Railway Clerks Lodge.
Election of Officers Postponed
Till Dec. "a.
WANT AN OPEN HOUSE.
Lodge Proposes to Establish
Club Room.
No "Strike Clause" in the Laws
of the Organization.

1t was decided at the meeting of rail-
way clerks held last night to postpone
the election of officers for the new lodge
till Tuesday evening, December "a, In
order that as large a number of clerks
as possible may enroll their names as
charter members of the organization,
and participate in the election.
There are now 65 names on the char
ter membership roll. and it is thought
that by the time of the next meeting,
the lodge will start out with a member
ship of 100. Any railroad clerks in To
peSa are eligible for membership. 1t is
not limited to any one road A clerk
must have been in the employ of the
road for one year to be eligible, or If he
has served two years and is no longer
in railroad work he is also eligible.
1. G. Wilson, who is one of the found
ers of the Topeka lodge, and is enl-
ployed in the office of w. J. Healey,
auditor of disbursements for the Santa
F'e, says in speaking of the Topeka
lodge:
I'VE expect 10 make the social feature
Of the Topeka lodge very attractive.
Right here in the Santa Fe offices there
are scores of clerks who are not ac-
Quainted with each other. We hope to
have lodge strong enough to open per-
manent headquarters, which will be a
pleasant place for members to resort
in the evenings. We want to have one
evening a week set aside for a, lecture
by some railroad official on a topic of
interest to railroad men. Our lodge does
not antagonize the railroads. We are
not striking organization
Regular meetings of the lodge will be
held on alternate Tuesday evenings at
the hall of A. o. u. w. lodge No. IL, on
West Sixth street.
The order of Railroad Clerks of Ameri-
ca is two years old 1t has been making
rapid progress and now has lodges organ
lied in the following states: Missouri,
K Ka Texas; West Virginia, virginia
Kentucky, Michigan, Arkansas and Cali
1t is estimated that there are about l.
900 clerks in Topeka who are eligible to
membership in the lodge. OF this number
join
r. E. Fisher. the secretary of the grand
lodge whose headquarters are at Sedalia.
Mo-, says. in speaking of the work of
The objects of the Order of Railway
Clerks of America is the same as other
organizations of railroad men, The clerks
not had a union organization-''
who are eligible to membership in
Every clerk in the railway business"
replied Mr.. Fisher. I'VE do not draw the
candidate for membership has been in
railroad work for not less than one year
We will take in anyone from $50 a month
clerks to the chief clerks who draw big
salaries"
from DOe the un9n msst any opposition
,'.Apparentiy there is no opposition. to
have just as good a right to exist as any
of the other unions, and it is realized by
the officials that no legitimate objection
can be made to our organization. On the
contrary we have had many encouraging
words said to us by railway officials
Does the union advocate strikes?"
THAT is not the purpose of our Organ MIA
ton. We have no strike clause in our
rules and are opposed to strikes at all
times. The objects of the lodge are so
ciai and instructive and we also hope
within short time to introduce some in
surance features for our members
Mr.. Fisher would make no estimate on
the number of members at present en-
rolled in the union. He said the member
ship is growing rapidly. In Kansas City
there is a lodge Of 400 members which
started a year ago with only a dozen.