Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-08-02

Lewiston, Me-, Aug. lat a mass
meeting called by the management OF
the road and held in Auburn hall at
o'clock Tuesday morning. employees of
the L., A. & w. electric railway system
voted to organize union. commit
tee was named to formulate plans for
doing this. The meeting was addressed
by Gen. Mgr. Ford of the company. both
before and after the vote was taken.
The meeting was one Of the most pic
turesque ever held in these two cities.
Originally the call was for l o'clock. but
it was impossible for employees of the
Bath and Augusta divisions to reach
Lewiston at that hour; 2 was the earliest,
even though special cars were provided
by the management to transport them to
the meeting.
The first public announcement that the
company had called the meeting was
made Monday afternoon.
As soon as the local cars ended theiY
daily runs Monday night their conductors
and motormen wendell their way first to
idly gathering men of the day runs and
then all made their way to Auburn
where the meeting was held. Naturally
the principal topic of conversation was
the object of the meeting. In the notice
sent to the men 1t was stated that Mr.
Ford desired to talk over the situation
with them. While many wondered
whether the subject Of union was to
be discussed. they felt that in all proba.
bility it would be.
When the last Of the through inter
urban cars Of the road had reached ends
of the runs. other than Lewiston, special
cars Immediately started for this city,
bringing employees of the road located
at those points. The last Of these cars
arrived here at a few minutes before
o'clock Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Ford States Object
Auburn hall was aglow with light as
the last men filed in at 2 o'clock. There
was neither confusion nor excitement
The men quickly made their ways tc
seats and waited for the conference tc
open. Gen. Mgr. Ford, Gen. Supt. BOWIE
Of the road, Division Supt. Fuller OF
Bath, and Alfred P. Sweeney. assistan,
to the general manager were on the
platform, and about 300 of the employees
were seated in the hall.
The meeting was called to order and
Mr.. Ford addressed the gathering. He
told the men that the interests Of the
read and the men were IDENTICAL that
what benefited the men worked for the
good of the company and the reverse.
He was extremely pleased with the
splendid spirit Of cooperation which
had existed between the L., A. & w.
and it's men, and hoped it would con-
tinue. He said that the employees con-
stituted one of the finest body Of men
to be found in the country; a band
which always kept the interest Of the
road at heart and gave it the best in
them.
Taking up the matter Of forming a
union, Mr.. Ford told the men that re
did not know whether they desired
such an organization. 1t was for them
tc decide. 1t was tie feeling Of the
company that If the men desired to
organize a union it was best that it
should be done rightly and with full
knowledge of the company; that if it
were done in that way it would be to
the benefit Of the road as we'll as the
men. He suggested that a ballot of all
present be taken to decide the matter.
Paper was distributed among those
gathered and the voting began. When
the ballots were in and counted it was
found that 166 had voted in favor Of
a union and 113 against.
When this had been announced Mr..
Ford again spoke to the men. saying
that as the majority desired such an
organization he would suggest that a
committee be named to formulate
plans. Some Of those present were for
delaying the appointment Of a COM
mittee, feeling that they had not given
the matter sufficient thought to b In
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