Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-10

E1ghty-Seven stars contributed 10 tHe
nations service flag: more than 100000
invested in liberty bonds. $4,000 in war
savings stamps and 3I5 Red Cross mem
berships purchased-this is the war
record to date of the Capital Traction
Company and its employees.
The figures were presented at a pa
triotic meeting last night of officials
and employees in the company's admins
tration building. seth and NJ streets.
1t was the final session of the season
Of company section No. s. American
Electric Railway Association. 1t de-
veloped not only a review of the war
accomplishments. but enthusiastic
avowals to subscribe to future bond
sales and in every way support the war
program.
Fifty Years in Service.
Aside from its patrioticNaspect the
meeting was unusual in that it terIni-
mated in a reception to William E. Ora
ham. foreman of the paint shop. in
honor of his having been fifty years in
the service of the company. All the
Oldest employees were on hand to par
ticipate in the greeting to Mr.. Graham
and the attendance was the largest OF
the year.
Mr.. Graham was taken completely by
surprise when the company presented
him with a purse of $3.50 in gold and
his associates gave him chest of sill
yer. George E. Hamilton, president Of
the company, made the presentation
speech. Vice President John H. Hanna
also extended Fluctuations on behalf
Of the company and Its men
Longest in continuous service of any
employee. Mr. Graham entered the paint
0hnr of hn och in yfn
town Railway Company in 1858. when
he was seventeen years of age. The
foreman of the shop at that time was
his .brother-in-laW. Thomas P. South
car barn and stables on NJ street. just
west of 32d street, now used as coal
storage bins. Upon Mr.. Southwicks
death. in 1892, Mr.. Graham was made
uously under the old company and since
Its consolidation with the Chevy Chase
line, when the name was changed to
the Capital Traction Company.
Married Forty Years Ago.
January is. 1873. Mr.. Graham was
married ma. to Miss Mary Ida Bean; Their
William r. Graham. and ten grand
children reside in Washington
Mr.. Graham is regarded as an ex-
pert on paints and also on the various
and upkeep of the companv's cars and
properties. The high esteem in which
he has been held by all the officers and
his fellow employees during his fifty
service he has rendered made him the
subject of numerous eulogies at last
nights meeting.
Songs and addresses were woven into
the patriotic part of the meeting.
which was presided over by Elon Won
~ hA
from the H. NJ. S. Warrior sang q
number of patriotic songs and were
given an ovation. c. NJ Richmond.
tenor soloist, was forced to respond to
several encores. Motion pictures of tho
battle of Arras and other war pic
lures were shown.
President Won Culin announced that
the company's service Tag now num-
bers eighty-sever stars, and his state
ment regarding the third liberty loan
showed that the number of Capital
Traction Company officials and en-
p1oyers who had purchased bonds was
30 per cent greater than the number
who subscribed to the second loan.
Also the amount invested was an in
crease of 10d per cent. For the second
loan there were 211 subscribers with
SCI 900 worth of bonds taken while the
third loan produced 27S subscribers,
the total subscription being $4,000
The company itself has applied for
$150.000 worth of bonds of each issue.
having been allotted $S7. 500 worth of the
FIRST. $500 of the second and $780,
600 of the third for total of $780,
900. Ofhcials and employees subscribed
for $63,5o0 worth of bonds of the last
two issues and. while record was not
kept of individual subscriptions to the
first issue. the total purchases by the
company and its men, it was stated,
exceed 100000
Every employe was urged to Join the
Red Cross when the next membership
drive begins. the campaign Of last
winter having recruited 375 members
from the Capital Traction ranks.
President van Culin said. Appeal also
was made for as liberal purchases as
possible Of war savings stamps. of
which the employees have bought $4,000
worth thus far.