Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
work. With that foundation it may be en-
phaticaly stated that employees will well
come all such efforts to provide for their
welfare
Between Employer and Employees.

Through welfare work we find re-
established the personal touch between the
employer and the employees which was lost
when commercial organization grew to such
vast proportions. While the employer
cannot, under present conditions, meet in
dividually each employee, he can periodical
ly attend their functions, and this active
participation of the employer not only
brings him into communication with the
employees, but 1t is highly appreciated by
them and Is essential to the successful
prosecution of welfare work.
You will fully appreciate that when
speak of welfare railway work from the
standpoint of individual employer IL
Illustrating my view and explaining how the
work should be carried forward, that the
persona, in character.
Thirty years age brakeman on a
steam railroad / was away from home
forced t. live IN n boarding house such as
the railroad tar,ninaIs and my wages would
enord. 1hcie was absolutely no place for
me In me evening where Ii was warm ex-
cept the saloon and the pool room. My
experience as wage-earner taught me
that untna'ric0 men usually have no place
to go evenings. except the hall bed room,
cold In winter. My knowledge Of the home
itssness and cheerlessness of the average
railroad employe led me to the establish
menc II club Icoms for the men employed
on the street raiiwa!s in New York city
large Percentage OF the $4,000 men en-
dent live in boarding houses. Many are
from tho country. The club rooms | estab-
lished include an auditorium, where month
ly entertainments are given, library. a
pool room and physicians office They
were used Immediately and extensively, and
chance visitor will find the rooms filled
every night in the week.
Advanced Mental Equipment.
Early in my career. engaged In the
very lowest branches of railroad work and
finding the necessity for more advanced
mental equipment to supplement the COM
mon school education which / then pos
sessed, IL was necessary to use every mo-
ment and make every endeayor to secure
that information The only means found
possible at that time was a general library
situated at a terminal point of the railroad
on which | was then working. To secure
the facilities of the library 1t was neces-
sary for one to be pupil in public school
OF that ps &c and recommended by some
property owner | succeeded however, In
securing introduction which gained me
the friendship of the librarian. who very
kindly not only loaned me the necessary
books, such as they were, relating to rail-
roads generally both at home and abroad.
but directed my Investigations and studies
, Unfortunately. the rule was that none ex-
cept school students at that time might
occupy the reading rooms. Living In a
boarding house. cold and cheerless ! spent
my evenings In switch house. The only
warm place available. AS I progressed in
the acquisition Of the information / was
seeking determined that IL fortune favor
ed me in railroad work and I attained a
position where I had sufficient control of
money and the friendship of those who were
interested In the property I would provide
facilities OF the character OF which I felt
the need for those who were engaged In the
struggle for education. that ! would leave
no stone unturned IN my efforts to help the
man who was seeking for knowledge to
better his condition, and to place such
| facilities within his reach.
What is the Compensation
II have been asked what Is the compen-
sation for work OF this character. Bear
ing in mind the thought with which had
set out, remembering my determination TO
help the other fellow, I can say that
have been repaid many times for my efforts
by the knowledge and By the testimony
OF the men who have been helped along In
their life work, and who have been fur
nished information that they could not ae-
ouira In the ordinary days work, which
n..ed them for higher grade positions.
This is a work that is dear to me. and
the fact that so many have taken it up
through the fnstrumentaiity of the welfare
department of the National Civic Fedora
ton Is exceedingly gratifying
That there is not question which can
be asked to the why and wherefore Of