The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-12

tor on the St. Louis Division; Mir. R. E hempers Master of Trains on the St. Louis Division, took service first as operator on the Knoxville Branch; Mr. . ~ l.. Wise, Assistant Master of Trains on the Henderson Division. was drawn rom the telegraph service on that division. l might add that the writer was assistant agent on the Memphis LAnes and then operator, when he first took service with the Company.
 The o. R. T. Is, according to recent testimony. a labor organization. The men in the telegraph branch of the service Of this company are not treat ed or regarded as 'laborers" accord ing to the common interpretation Of the word. They occupy semi-confiden- tial and official positions; are the Com panys representatives in the local communities. representing it in it's dealings with it's connections and the public, and are the custodians of ihe Company's funds and private records, where they are stationed, And their efhcisncy in these positions would be seriously impaired should they join the organization and assume an obligation. which In effect requires first allegiance to the order, instead of to the Com pany; an obligation that restricts per- sonal freedom to ~the point where you can not impart the knowledge of your
  without first getting permission from its chief; and which obligation would Furthermore disqualffy a man for ad- vancement to the higher positions men tioned, inasmuch as. among other things. it requires that members of the order be given employment in pref erence regardless of the Company's policy. Again. these promotions in the telegraph department. and also promotion from the telegraph depart ment to the higher official positions described, are rewards of merit, are the result of ability and ambition en- ergetically and Loyalty applied, and the same could not consistently ob- tain in connection with an employe who would first contribute his moral support or his earnings to the mem bership fund, for the organization to use in it's attempt to harm the eompa- ny he serves.
 So. long as it has been the Compa- ny's policy as outlined above. to pay and treat the men as fairly. without organization and without the expense of membership fees and the expense of dues. as other Southern roads in our neighborhood pay and treat their men with organization and the ex- pense connected herewith, and fur thermore. as such membership would. for the reason outlined. disqualtfy them for advancement. and as it is not the company's intention to depart from the policy of rewardinE the loyal and competent, no plausible reason has been advanced why the men in the telegraph branch of this eompanys service should take part in the organ nation; and for these same reasons am of the opinion that they will fur ther decline to become interested in | the order. so long as they are in this 1 Company,s service.
 In reply to your questions I could | write you in greater detail along the i same lines. but inasmuch as you say | you have been in the service thirly- 1 three years, you should be inore or | less familiar with the facts I have | recited. and a great many other Foas- ons which I have not cited in support | of the Companyfs position. provided | you are not in sympathy with the or- ganization. And if you are in sympa- thy with the organization, the facts as stated will remain just the same, and are So put that you can hardly take exception to them, provided you are l a fair~minded man, and I believe you are. and that you. regardless Of your personal sentiments are willing to con cede that the Company has some rights as well as the organization.
 Yours truly.
 B. M. Starks.
 General Manager.