The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-29
THE PULLMAN COMPANY AND ITS
PORTERS.


PoRTERS.
The Pullman Company, n of the
wealthiest and most conservative cor
porations in the world. has begun a
movement that bids to be revolution
airy in effect toward its large army of
p%orters, numbering more than 1000.
Investigation by the officials has
brought to light many instances where
their faithful employees have not re-
ceived enough consideration at the
hands of the company, and, because of
this, dissatisfaction has resulted to
the detrlment of the service. And in
the end, not only the porters and the
company suffered, but the public upon
whom both depend for existence.
1t has been discovered also hat not
enough rightly-directed attention has
been given to the type of men brought
into the service and that a few with
out principle were bringing discredit
upon the many who were giving their
best energies to the company and the
public. To remedy these evils the
general officials have decided that O
closer relationship and a better un-
d%erstanding must exist. To this end
a series of meetings we're called the
second week in August at the Chi
cago Y. M. G. A. for colored men. The
officials from the general offices had
heart-to-heart talks with the 1855 por-
tiers that were in attendance, showing
them that the interests of all were
4 lfnlrod N4nAAk-. nI@- l..
troduced many of the men to the mag
n~ificent Association building, who
have since become members, and was
so successful that the company decid-
ed to hold similar meetings whenever
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton had, or soon would give, accom-
modations for such.
Saturday, August %, J. A. Davis,
Chief Service Inspector, with ]. B.
Elliott, Superintendent of the Kansas
City district and other local officials,
held,th the second meeting at the c. M.
r. Church across the street from the
Y. M. G. A. building no wnearing COM
pletion. There were present several
officials Of the local office, more than
a hundred porters and a number of
professional and business men of the
city. Mr.. Davis strongly impressed
the men with the fact that a new day
had dawned for the porters. He told
of many new rules which are calcu-
lated to add to the mems comfort and
w~ell-being. Among them-the old sys-
tenn of penalizing the men, which
worked a hardship on their families;
had been modified; that each man
would have a loose-leaf book that held
full instructions as to what q man
could and could not do; also of the
sick benefits and retired list and of
the reward to be paid for suggestions
that benefit the service. Already sew
eral men have made suggestions that
have been approved. One porter has
just recently received 5000 for a help
full idea.
To receive the class of men who de-
serve and will appreciate the new or
der of things, the company is to give
preference to men who attend church
es and frequent such institutions as
the Y. M. G. A. rather than those who
frequent dives and bawdy houses.
Prof. ]. NJ. Marques made a point.
ed response that was heartily received
by all. Rev. ]. R. Ransom and Rev
w. H. Thomas, in a few well chosen
sentences, spoke very enthusiastically
OF the proposed reforms, declaring
this to be n of the greatest steps fol
the benefit of the Negroes ever insti
tuted in this country.