The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-02
CIRCULAR TO CONDUCTORS.
Important Meeting to Discuss Griev.
ances to Be Held In St. Paul.


aaces to Be Held In St Paul.
The following circular, issued to the
railway conductors of the west, has
been received by The Evening Times
with request for publication:
ST. Paul, MINI.
The Members OF the Order of Rail-
way Conductors
A union meeting of the Order of
Railway Conductors is scheduled for
St. Paul, Mimi, on the 14th day of
October, 1906, under the auspices of
st. Paul Division 40.
The undersigned committee was ap-
pointed by Division 40 to advertise
this meeting, beyond the formal no.
tice sent to divisions tributary to st.
Paul, by the secretary of Division 40,
and to answer any and all inquiries
relating thereto. 1t is desired that
notice Of this union meeting reach
every member of the order, and that
as many as possible attend. We de-
sire to impress upon the members the
importance of this meeting, and it
should be the aim and desire of all
who can to be present. Divisions far
remote from st. Paul would conserve
the interest of the order and of them
selves individually, by sending an in
structed representative. The rank
and file will dominate this meeting.
Grand Chief Conductor A. B. Gar
retson has declared himself interested
and signified his willingness to adj
dress the members.
One of the most important questions
that will come up for consideration
and discussion is the reason given
by railway managers for the frequent
dismissal Of passenger conductors.
These events occurring SO regularly
and in such conspicuous manner,
has cast stigma upon the entire or
ganization and upon passenger con-
ductors, individually and as a class.
While dissoyalty-vague and indefi-
mite as it is-does not necessarily
mean dishonesty, it is implied, and the
public accept no other Interpretation
of it, as applied to passenger conduc-
tors. 1t would seem, then, to be our
imperative duty, both to our organi-
Zation and ourselves as individuals,
to take cogniZance of this state of af-
fairs to the end that square deal
may be secured to both employers
and employees, and for the further
purpose that the stigma now resting
upon US as class and in conse-
quence of these frequent and whole
sale dismissals be removed, thereby
elevating the moral standard of our
order. No member of the order serv-
ing in the capacity of passenger
conductor, can escape suspicion so
long as present methods and conditions
prevail. The railway managers can
not be blamed for their efforts to eff
feet reforms, wherever, in their judg-
ment, evil exists. 1t is by no means
certain, however, that injustice has
not been done many conductors be-
cause of the system and methods en-
plOyed to detect disloyalty. The pas
senger conductors duties are fraught
with many suspicious circumstances
and acknowledgements SO be-
cause of the character of his work
and existing prejudice. There is no
way that these situations and circum-
stances can be avoided. From the
moment he dOns his uniform he is
surrounded by an atmosphere of sus-
picion, and any system adopted by
railway managers alone is not easy
OF perfecting. In view of this fact 1t
would naturally follow that injustice
may he done. No better proof OF the
impOtency of the methods employed
for years in dealing with this evil
is necessary than the fact that little
or no progress has been made
towards obtaining perfect control of
the situation. Is it not then adyis-
able for the mutual benefit of the
railway companies and of the organi-
ways and means be considered where