The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-05-01
FORGET TROUBLE
and GIVE ALL
TO WAR SERVICE
Brotherhood Man at Man
dan Pleads with Workmen
to. Use Greatest Efforts.

Mandan, N. D., May 1--we want
to forget all differences. eight hour
and sixteen hour laws, and everything
else. and when we are ordered to get
out and help the farmers thresh, let's
do it, said B. E. Kennedy, represen-
tative OF the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainnen yesterday to a crowd of
railroad men of all classes Of SER
vice. Fl.
1t was the opening meeting of SER
les which started today over the yell
lowstone division of the Northern Pa
cific and which will be followed on
every other division within the week.
The speaker declared that speaking
upon the authority of the officials OF
the railroad, the company intended to
give every service possible. 1.-THE farm
ers will be asked to help maintain
tracks, place ties, and do other sec
ton hand work, as soon as they have
completed their spring seeding. In
return the Northern Pacific will send
employees of the road to the farmers
to aid in threshing and harvesting the
crops this fall. That includes conduct
ors, dispatchers, engineers, engine
wipers and section hands. This isn't
for the railroad, it's for the United
States and Old Glory"
In addition to this the speaker con-
tinued: "J. A. Vetter. assistant Chief
Dispatcher at Glendive is now in
charge of a school with twenty seven
women enrolled, teaching them teleg-
raphy so they can qualify for positions
Other women have applied for admis-
sion. The women will replace the
men at the key and at a minimum
wage of $4,000 a month.
"A circular letter is being sent out
offering school teachers positions at
clerical jobs of the railroad at from
$65 to SIS month during the sum-
mer vacation. q
Seven women are now wiping en-
gines in the Missoula roundhouse. re-
placing men who have enlisted. Five
women were put on the same kind of
work in the Glendive roundhouse to-
day, and women will replace some
men in the Mandan shops within the
week. The government does not want
the railroad men to enlist. You can
do your share here.
However. the government will take
you IL they need you. Government
agents have visited the Mandan shops
and registered four machinists who
will be called upon for special work
take their places.
1.-THE sixteen hour law, providing
that railroad men cannot serve for
more than sixteen hours at stretch.
will be annulled for the duration OF the
war. This, is to allow trainmen who
may be moving troop or supply trains
to keep rushing stuff through to the
destination. even though they may be
sleepy and tired and not force them to
tie up an important train enroute.
The Miles City. crew have set the
example. In moving a troop train re-
Gently they changed engines. oiled and
watered cars, ETC., and had the train
out of the yards in three minutes. sew
en- minutes less than the usual time"
Germans, Austrians. Italians. French,
Russians in the audience applauded
and swore to do anything the rail-
road asked. They have accepted with
out question the declaration that the
Northern Pacific system Is now mere
1y the. Northern Pacific division of the
Continental Railroads Of North Amer
lea, and that the government is in con-
troll.
From Mandan the special car will be
taken to Dickinson, then to Glendive.
and elsewhere. 1t is in charge of b.
e. Kennedy, chairman, representing
the trainmen: Otto Wurdemann. M.
]. Brown. representing the conduct
ors; and F. l.. Mcdonald, representing
the engineers.
Meetings throughout the system will
be held three times daily at 10 a. M:
p. m. and TAB p. m.