The Chicago whip. (Chicago, Ill.) 1919-19??, 1919-12-27
why They Organize y
By John Riley-A. r. of L. Organizer

picked up through conversations with
Sleeping Car and Dining Car men.
1t must be noted that modern
science and inventive ingenuity has
provided many comforts with which
the public has been blessed. as a re-
suit of varied features in the COM
bination of elements that are calcu-
lated to lessen personal displeasure
obtaining the most desirable results.
For instance, the methods in vogue
at this day, and placed so handily at
the disposal of the travelling Ameri-
can public of the railroads. Beginning
a decade ago, the luxurious car
known as the sleeper was placed into
operation. first as an experiment.
later on, it became a permanent part
of every train carrying passengers,
from one destination to another.
The idea was capitalized by George
M. Pullman, and his associates, and
today, it is possible for the busy bust
ness man to board train in New
York City at night, occupy berth,
surrounded with every possible COM
fort, and reach his destination re-
freshed and vigorous, ready to take
up whatever duties it becomes neces-
sary for him to perform.
Among the people included in that
retinue of public servants whose duty
it is to administer to the needs of
such travellers, we find the Pullman
Porter strongly in eveidence. In spite
of the many trying ordeals and re-
sponsibilities he must face, he has al
ways been underpaid. He is ex-
pected to fill a dual role. In con-
nection with administering to the
wants and needs of the passengers,
he is responsible for the women and
children.
In this respect, he becomes a val
liable asset, as well as source of
revenue for the companies operating
such cars. This alone, should be suf-
ficient to justify his employers in at
least attempting to see that he is
paid living wage. But instead, they
seem reasonably assured that he will
get all that he is entitled to by virtue
of the fact that he must, in this capa-
city cultivate a pleasing, humorous
disposition, and in so doing, exact tips
and other forms of gratuities that
should, in a measure be considered
his own, from the fact that he has
taken exceptional care of those whom
it is his duty to serve. Whatever he
receives from this source, should be
considered only as token of his SER
vice, and should not be considered
part of his compensation for the SER
vices he has performed.
This is ONE reason why they have
organized.
Self-respect should be an element
on a par and equal to personal pride.
Any self-respecting man should be
able to demand a living wage from
his employer, who, through his SER
vice, receives fabulous dividends, and
is provided with Injuries in abund-
ance.
Another pleasing feature or neces-
sary adjunct in connection with trav-
cling is the modern dining car with
its crew of we'll trained walters, who
serve food of the same nature that
can be secured in any of the leading
hotels. This is very essential, and
serves as a panacea for the pangs of
hunger that were heretofore unpro-
vided for on long weary journey.
The waiter generally receives
very small compensation, as COM
pared with that received by the other
classes of railroad employees. He
too, has been compelled to look in
some other direction for relief. The
tips received by him are generally of
uncertain quantity.
Many times, the class of people he
serves are not able to be as generous
with their tips and others, and as a
result, his salar.t, or what he realizes
in the way of finance, becomes an
unknown quantity from trip to trip
MOSTLY unknown" Hence, to be
reasonable, and to provide for a sta
BILE income, they are seeking relief
through the medium furnished by or
ganization, and are getting together
every day for the purpose of bargain
ing collectively, in their own in
terest.
The Porters and Walters of today
seem determined to be regarded as
men, by virtue of the fact that they
desire to have something to say per-
tanning to the regulation of their
wages, as well as the working con-
ditions.