The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-16
bring, forth ~ & fruit . ssrtns

| tatings>in vigorous fashion the cues.
7 ton OF formingS D. Strons national or.
Sanzauon for cM6Hse and defense
There are now$' tnss existence two or
three associationssGEh protective char,
aeter, but theirSslNHNence as vet has
not been felt more than, Locally, and
their numbers WoQtd not warrant them
in attempting any movement, on q
large, scale, We hope the plan under
/, consideration lltbe pushed on to sue
cess and il the rfeAt men get behind
! 1T, we are sure sonaA effective reforms
can be brought about through suehE a
| union There tsS not in the entire
lenstE"and 6rsadthSQf the land q more
worthy, polite. mpNAs faithful or hard
eS worked e ass OF p0ablic servants than
! the men who loah$after the wants of
Sle travellers who patronize the Pulls
| hfan SleeFersE AcE0rding to onr0 heat
! information, these porters are paid
beggarly wages--aySrasing about S25
per month. Just think Of it, A bloat-
cd corporation thatMearns the amount
OF its capital in three years, paying for
| the services of meng no more than q
messenger toy often m ght be- expect
ca to be paid for labor that entails no
responsibility and requires small per-
sonal capacity! N0apparent thought
Is given by the ,comIany of the irregu~
ttar hours that robs the porter OF much
social enjoyment t. and breaks up the
sweetest pant Of his shome life. Noth-
Ing but higher wages can even parti-
ally compensate. these, men for the sacs
rlnces they must make daily, in the
performance Of their duty. We're it
not for the generous tips" handed
Them by the sympathetic passengers,
who are, as rule. Of the well-to-do
classes, they would be wholly unable
to support themselves and their fami,
lies. While these %honorariums" are
welcome, under the painful circum-
stances, it is offensive to the dignity
and manly pride ofsa man of standing
to be placed in ths.attitude off a pro-
,fesSional mendicant; Taependent. for his
livelihood supon they folibles, whims
and uncertain cflarity of public
which feels that they have amply paid
for all they get when they have been
mulcted of a gooaly sum by the Pull
man company itself, The tipping sys-
TEN is coming to be regarded as
nuisance on both sides, and it will be
Gods blessings when corporations
can be made to pays, their employees
living wages. and when travellers or en-
tertainment seekers of any variety can
turn around without being held up"
by some underpalds individual, snfirk-
ing and gyrating for a coin or so to
augment his slender salary Any eff
fort, therefore, on the part of the gen
tleman.y Pullman porterS TO maintain
the high Standard of. their ealing; by
increasing their pay and thereby re-
tain in the service persons of reliable
character and demonstrated efficiency,
is deserving OF the cordial support of
all who must Journey UP and down the
country, and wish t0Aio so in comfort
and safety-or who nave wives, daugh-
ters, mothers and sisters who may
sometime need the attention and kind
ly assistance of'the>only agents of the
"soulless corporatfonH near enough to
extend the needed court esies To hold
in their employ nle4f+of the culture, in
telligence and fidelity to administer
their functions in ssaSh a painstaking
manner as to'make TIE Pullmans' popu-
laT with, their patroasSs& the managers
should be willing to ,p8y them better
wages, and make theirAliving~ less" de-
pendent upon chance. That the COM
pany is able to be liberal is duly at
tested by the: fact that not long ago
the enormous surplus of $26;000,000
was divided among the stockholders as
the profits of 81 single year. A nation
al organization, to incfude in it's mem
bership every porter In. the Pullman
service, and conducted On strictly bus
mess principles, would be very poten-
tial in securing improved conditions,
living wages and a greater respect for
the profession in the eyes Of the PEG.
De at large IT is tn .hn hOnad tina
the porteTs much needed organization
will be effected and that 1T will prove
effective.