The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-10-17
ADAPTED TO CONDITIONS.
Scattered Membership Makes impossi-
BILE Ordinary Meetings - Business
Transacted by Correspondence--Mu-
tuaI Benefit Department

BILE Ordinary Meetings - Business
Transacted by Correspondence-Mu
tuaI Benefit Department.
1t Is fact not generally known that
the railroad telegraphers' organization
Is different In its makeup from any
other labor organization In the world.
A large maiority OF its membership is
composed of operators working In
places where only one teegrapher is
employed In a town. and that one Is
ssually the station agent and general
tictotum for the railroad. The sta
lions are so far apart. as a rule. that 1t
Is impossible for any great number Of
agents to meet together at any one time
or place without seriously interfering
with the business of the railroad, con-
sequently they have to get along with
out meetings and transact most OF
their business by correspondence. They
have the advantage of being able to
communicate with one another by wire
to certain extent. but that process Is
not conducive to enthusiasm, and
certain amount of enthusiasm plays an
effective part in organization work.
However. what was hitherto thought
TO be an impossbility in the way of
organization has by careful and per
sistent work been brought about, and
the railroad telegraphers can now
boast Of an effective labor organiza
ton.
When the organization was first in
stituted 1t admitted to membership
only those who were employed as tesg
raphers, but later on, In accordance
with the development of the railroad
business and the general processes of
evolution, 1t widened It's scope and ad-
mitted telephone operators, staff men,
station agents, lever men. interlockers,
train dispatchers. line repairers and
train directors.
In most Instances they are organized
into what are called system divisions
that is to say, that all the telegraphers
on one system of railroad are members
of the same local or system division.
Take the Southern Pacific railroad as
oh CAoblpiC' AtOh' Va bio'AAs OAS''
south to San Francisco, from Ogden.
Utah. west to San Francisco and from
San Francisco south to Galveston.
Tex, and New Orleans the telegra-
pliers ell belong to the one local. A
chairman Is elected for each superin-
tendent's district. who takes up local
matters with the division superintend-
4. IL, nla tv fn
to do. The chairman is by virtue OF
bis Office a member of the general
committee, which body handles cases
of a general nature as we'll as stubborn
local cases that may come to 1t on
appeal The general committee elects
general chairman and general sec
retary and treasurer. the former usu-
ally receiving n salary from the di
vision. as well as travelling expenses,
and 1t Is bis duty to adjust difficulties
and keep his organization up to con-
stantly effective standard. He usually
dies young.
The order held its ninth biennial and
nineteenth regular session of the grand
division-in ordinary parlance, its con-
yention-at Baltimore. May II to p,
with over 700 delegates and visitors
In attendance. The presidents report
to that obdy indicated l01 revised
schedules and wage scales accom-
plished during the last two years and
new schedules and wage scales estab-
lished on eighteen other railroads,
Each and every one of these negotia-
ions included an increase In wages and
improved working conditions. and there
was total absence OF strikes during
the two year period. This probably
accounts for all the old officers being re-
elected at the Baltimore convention.
A feature Of the organization OF
which its officers are justly proud is
Its mutual benefit department. This
Is an organized that passing" arrange
ment for the beneticiaries of deceased
members, sometimes called insurance.
Certificates In this department are is
sued In three series calling for $500,
$500 and $1,000 respectively, costing
s2.4O, $500 and $720 per year. This
department was started In 1893. Up
to April &c. 1918, 1t disbursed for death
claims 1887 AT and still had sur
plus on hand amounting to 1878, 1929.
This range Of figures indicates what
can be done In the insurance field and
Is worthy OF some study
The steady growth of the surplus is
accounted for by so many young,
healthy and desirable men entering
the service and leaving 1t early In life
for more profitable fields The flock
and chain" man. the one that dances
In and out of his organization, also
helps to swell the surplus. and this
makes 1t easier for the old steadfast,
who habitually cracks down his dues
with the regularity OF clockwork.
The railroad telegrapher represents
organized labor at the very outposts
Of civilization. and many locals In in
ernationals. federal labor unions and
even state federations. now in ex-
istence. are due to his persistent efforts
for the cause of organized labor out
side OF his own particular craft-H.
3. Perham in American Federationist