Evening journal., 1912-02-16
RAILROAD
VETS TALK
OF OLD TIMES
Pennsylvania R. R. Men Rem
iHiSCsnt at Century Club
Annual Dinner
MAYOR BRINGS
A HAPPY GREETING

The third annual banquet Of the
Veteran Employees Association of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company was
held in the New Century Club last
evening and for two and one half
hours, the men who have spent twenty
years or more in the service of the
company, renewed that feeling Of
brotherhood so peculiar to those of
their calling.
Prior to the assembling in the din
Ing nall the veterans gathered in the
cloak rooms and discussed interest
Ing periods of their association. To
the strains of a string orchestra, seat
ed on the stage and screened by a
bank of potted palms and ferns, the
Vets marched into the room.
After taking their places Edward
Gibson, president of the association,
asked that all remain standing while
grace was said by the Rev. Eben n.
Baldwin, Of Claymont. Following
grace, the members and their guests
we're seated to a tempting dinner
served by Jacob Zimmerman.
Among the retired railroad men
present were r. B. Plummer vet
eran engineer, and w. Bayard Gem,
one of the oldest shop men.
President Gibson, who presided at
the conclusion of the banquet said he
had received letters from invited
guests, stating they could not be pres
.ent Among these were Governor
Simeon S. Pennewill. A. J. Whitney,
Jr.. superintendent Of the Maryland
Division, and John Milliken, superin-
tendent of motive power. Alr Milliken,
it was stated, was detained owing TO
sickness at his home.
President Gibson then opened the
speech making of the evening by re-
ferring to the objects Of the organiza-
tion, saying it was not to assume. or
presume. demand or. command but 10
hand together for sociability alone.
MayOr With Vets.
Continuing he said the Veterans
Association members were employed
hy one Of the greatest companies in
the world. For that reason they should
have the greatest organization IN the
world The one requisite necessary,
he said is presumption and conf
dence. He then introduced Mayor Har-
sison w. Howell, who began his re-
marks by saying he had learned that
DE was eligible TO membership hav-
ing "a fair amount of presumption,
fconidence and a service in the Penn
tylVania Railroad Of over twenty
years He meant, he continued. in the
Iassengcr service, having paid fare
for that number of years. In time,
tho Mayor said, he might make APP
plicatiOn for membership
MAYOR Howell said he thought he
was to address a gathering of old
men, hut as he looked over the mem
bcrs of the Veterans Association, he
was Impressed with their youthful ap-
Tearance, and he was forced to think
that they must have entered the SER
vice of the company when they were
IN knee pants.
Mayor Howell spoke of his boyhood
days when. near Trenton, he with 9TH
cr boys iTequented the freight yards
and enjoyed rides which today he
could not enjoy. even if he was May
or The company at present patrol
fheir entire system with men who arc
armed This, the Mayor said, was a
good thing as it stopped trospessing
on the properties.
President Gibson then called on the
Rev. Mr.. Baldwin, who has been in
the employ of the company for the
past 81 years. When he first began
railrOading, Mr.. Baldwin said, hours
were from 6 O'Clock in the morning TO
il o'clock at night. Things have
changed, however, he said. Mr. Bald
wins remarks were reminiscent
and the members were in laughter
while he spoke.
In closing, he urged his hearers
to have charity for all, and do their
duty to God as well as to their en-
ployers.
Wife and Doctor Gracious.
w. Bayard Gem, one of the oldest
retired employees of the company, was
called on for a few remarks, and said
that with the permission of his wife
and Mayor Howell he was allowed TO
be present. He said he wished the
POSTMASTER had called on someone
who had served the company longer.
Mr.. Gem spoke at length on the pres
ent methods of work as compared with
the old system. He continued, say
ing, that he could remember when he
and helper attended to all the work
Continued on Page Eleven.