The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-12-04
MOVE AGAINST TIPPING
Railway Porters Unite to Fight
the System.
4 NEW YORK LODGE ORGANIZED.

Sixty Men Met In Private Car to
Demand Living Wages-Deleg2tes
Will BE Sent to National Conven-
ton so Meet In Chicago Next jan
uary.
One Of the most surprising develop
ments of convention week at Saratoga
came near being overlooked in the ex
element and interest surrounding the
New York Democratic state conyen
ton, says the New York World. An
association Of sixty Pullman porters
was organized at Saratoga the other
day with tie ayoWed purpose of abol-
ishing the tipping system.
The porters say they don't want tips;
they want living wages. The New
York lodge, which WAS formed at Sar-
atogas will send delegates TO a .conyen-
tioA N Chicago next, january, when the
NationS 1olored Men 5. Railroad assoc
citation Will lie revixed and d strong eff
fort made to organize the porters on
every railroad system IN the country.
The poitegs seldom get such an OPP
portunity to gather together as was
afforded bg the presence Of 50 many
special trains III the railroad yards at
Saratoga. They took advantage Of
their chance. ana every Pullman por
ter Insthe yards. sixty in all, assembled
in ex-Police CHER William S. Devery's
private cur, the Elzevir, which beaded
bis special train.
They listened to,an address by VIII
liam II. Green, a tall orator, who hai
taken excellent care of the Devery
party on the trip to Saratoga from
New York and who had received a
substantial Zip from the Ninth district
leader
I'VE porters must organize, he said.
TN no other way can we raise the
standard OF our service to the travel
ing public and wipe out the system Of
tips, which makes beggars OF every
one OF us men. We don't want tips.
WeAwant the Pullman company to pay
us wages that we can live on.
"We are paid S1.23 for a trip be
tween New York and Chicago The
company makes perhaps 5000 out of
that same run.
You all know what sort of service
some porters give. If a man gives one
of US a dollar tip. he is very likely TO
get particular attention paid to him.
and the rest of the passengers are
neglected. The public gets the worst
of it, and our profession suffers from
these Individual cases.
IF we raise the standard of service,
we can get more out of the Pullman
company, and we can do it in no other
way. We must organize, and in a
very short time we can wipe out the
tips and draw living wages"
The speech was cheered. Other por-
tiers talked in the same way. Tie
New York lodge was organized with
nurrah. and the following temporary
officers were elected:
President, William H. Green; vice
president, William Grandy; secretary.
G. L. Green; treasurer, George Wray.
President Green went to Devery just
before the Devery special train left for
home and told him about the new or
ganization. He, said the porters want
ed to get announcement in the news
papers.
DO you realize what you're doing?"
asked the big chief.
Yes" said Porter Green. 81 know
that I'm liable to lose my position
with the Pullman company, but I'm a
man. and I've got the right to express
my convictions.
: shake said Devery, extending his
hand. ''Go ahead. You're all right"
An Experts Views on Tips.
The 'Colored Walters Chesterfield"
a BOOB on the duties and responsible
ties of walters, was issued the other
day, says a Chicago dispatch to the
New York World. The author is John
B. Coins, an old time Chicago waiter
"a waiter should never place himself
In a positionsof expectancy in the mat
ter, Of receiving a tip" says Coins,
land should avoid approaching a guest
If he sees him in the act Of drawing
change from, his pocket. * waiter
should never pose as an object Of pity
with a view. to securing aytip. If he
deserves tip, he should let the guest
feel within himself that he deserves 1t.
Should the waiter receive tip previ-
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