The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-04-19

AS have some doubt about the read
ers of the Comrade having any curl
osity as to ''how became a Socialist, -
it may be in order to say that the sub
ject is the editors, not my own; and
that what is here offered is at his bid
ding-my only concern being that he
shall not have cause to wish that had
remained what I was instead of be-
coming Socialist.
On the evening Of February q, 1876
the local lodge of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen was organized at
Terre Haute, Ind, by Joshua A. Leach,
then grand master, and I was admitted
as charter member and at once chos-
en- secretary. "Old Josh Leach" as he
was affectionately called, a typical
locomotive fireman of his day, was the
founder Of the brotherhood, and I was
instantly attracted by his rugged hon
esty, simple manner and homely speech
How we'll remember feeling his large.
rough hand on my shoulder, the kindly
eye of en- elder brother searching my
own as he gently said, my boy, you're
a little young, but I believe you're in
earnest and will make your mark in
the brotherhood" OF course I assured
him that I would do my best What
he really thought at the time flattered
my boyish vanity not little when
heard of it. He was attending a meet
ing at st. Louis some months later and
in the course of his remarks said: II
put a tow-headed boy in the brother
hood at Terre Haute not long ago, and
some day he will be at the head of it,"
Twenty-seven years, to a day, have
played their pranks with "Old JOSH"
and the rest of us. When last we met
not long ago, and I pressed his good,
right hand, I observed that he was
crowned with the frost that never
melts; and as I think of him now:
"Remembrance sl wakes. with all her
to Dain.'
My first step was thus taken in or
ganized labor and felt that a new in
fluence had enterd my life to fire my
ambition and change the whole current
of my career. I was filled with en-
thusiasm and my blood fairly leaped
in my Veins. Day and night I worked
for the brotherhood. To see it's watch
fires glow and observe the increase of
it's sturdy members were the sunshine
and shower Of my life. To- attend the
meeting was my supreme JOY, and for
ten years I was not once absent when
the faithful assembled
At the convention held in Buffalo in
1878 I was chosen associate editor of
the magazine, and in 1880 I became
grand secretary and treasurer. With
all the fire of youth I entered upon the
crusade which semed to fairly glitter
with possibilities. For eighteen hours
at stretch I was glued to my desk
reeling off the answers to my many
correspondents. Day and night were
one. Sleep was time wasted, and often
the still small hours, my mothers
hand turned off the light, I went to
bed under protest. Oh, what days!
And what quenchless zeal and consul
ming vanity! All the firemen every
where-and they were all the world
were straining:
'"To catch the beat
OF my tramping feet
My grip was always packed: and I
was darting in all directions. To tramp
through a railroad yard in the rain,
snow or sleet half the night, or till
daybreak to be ordered out of the
roundhouse for being an "agitator," or
put off train, sometimes passenger,
more often freight, while attempting
to deadhead over the division, were all
in the programme, and served to whet