The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-25
Rocky Mountain Divisions
Men Enlist for Uncle Sam
Railroad Employees Promise to Handle Greater Volume Of
Traffic for Country's Sake in Emergency
Shade Makes Appeal

The men of the Rocky Mountain di-
vision of the Northern Pacific railroad
enlisted en- masse yesterday in the in
dustrial army OF the United States.
This morning there Is no distinction
whatever between the khaki-cl boys
at the fort and the overalled men in
the railroad shops save that the former
are awaiting an opportunity to fight
for their country while the latter are
already doing battle for their flag.
The railroad men RULED to the COL
ors with cheers ut the call Of George
r. Sladc. vice president OF the road.
Vociferously they agreed to forget all
differences and to put their shoulders
to the wheel for the nations sake.
Dramatic Meeting.
Summons and answer came dra-
matically. Vice President Slade met
200 men at the Northern Pacific sta
ton mere at o'clock yesterday and
explained to them the Importance
transportation Is to play in the war Of
the United States against Germany.
Packed closely in hot, dark hall on
the third floor of the railroad building
the men, all of them black and greasy
from shop and engine, listened atten-
lively to their chief. When Mr.. Slade
had finished, Superintendent T. +.
Lowry. spokesman for the division.
arose.
Boys" he said, mfr Slade has asked
me if this division can handle Is to 20
per cent more traffic for the country's
sake. | didn't know what answer to
give him. and don't know now. I'll
leave it to you. What do you say?"
Reply 70 Prompt.
There wasn't a seconds hesitancy.
Sharp as shots came replies from all
parts of the hall:
"Yes!"
''You bet your life!"
'Sure thing!"
Superintendent Lowry turned to his
chief.
There's your answer" he said. AS
he spoke a cheer broke from the men.
It's volume was evidence of the earnest
ness Uncle Sans new soldiers will
carry to their assigned tasks.
One Busy Hour.
Vice President Slade. General Man.
ager J. NJ. Rapelje, General Superin-
tendent A. V. Brown and Superintend-
ent Lowry rode together across the di-
vision to Missoula yesterday. They
stopped here only for an hour but they
made the 60 minutes count. When the
train pulled in all the employees within
call were gathered on the station plat
form. Most of them had left their en-
gines or their lathes to hear the vice
presidents message. At the officials
heels they trooped up to the third floor.
where there is a big hall.
Rapelje Defines Crisis.
General Manager Rapelje addressed
them first. He told them that Mr..
Slade was bringing message. not from
headquarters in St. Paul, but from the
defense council in Washington. Briefly
he outlined the situation which the
United States is facing and prepared
them for the vice presidents explana-
ton of the railroads duty.
Il tell YOU" said Mr.. Rapelje. there
never was a time when l was more
nd n IA, AS,,n rtx oft har
never was a time when l was happier
to be a railroad man; there never was
a time when I took more pride In my
state Montana"
Sure Of This Division.
I'm not worrying about what you
men will do" he continued. THE his
tory of this nations wars shows that
railroad men have always done their
duty. And for you men of the Rocky
Mountain division I can speak with
knowledge. for I worked with you as
your superintendent for good many
years, and I never knew you to quit"
One Great System.
MI Slaue tOld the men tnat the en-
tity of the Northern Pacific had tenn
porarily been effaced. The railroads
of the country, he said, have been COM
bined into three great transcontinental
systems. All competition has ceased:
all are working together to raise the
nations transportation efficiency to a
miximum.
AS the Northern Pacific's represen-
tative. Mr.. Sade was summoned to the
railways conference recently held In
, Washington at the request of the ma
the men, a central committee was or