davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10

Wiuie-Paw, what is the difference
between an engaged girl ana Il mar
ried woman?
Maw--A married woman personally
attends to the york Of putting on her
rubherS, my son"
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
Proof.

A true philosopher is one
Who lives his gloomy day or two
And bears his bit of trouble in
The way he says you ought 10 do
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
Stimulation Avoided.

40 YOU want any hair tonlcY'
asked the attentive barber
NO replied Mr. Crowcher "If my
hair grows any faster won't he able
70 afford to have II cut
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10

For the boys. MOTHERS, you can
cut down the HIGH COST OF LIVING
on your boys clothing. We are selling
direct from the MIL Strong. durable
cloth. Nice line of patterns TO select
from, suitable FO RAIL- TIE FAMILY.
Wri.s us for samples.
AsHUELOT WOODEN CO..
GIISUM, y. IA.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
GET INSURED TODAYl

Your time life. home. car. furniture.
etc. have q money value.
Why take chances nt loss to yourself
or f1muyt
Gail, write or telephone for rates to-
day next week may be too late.
! am agent for the John Hancock
Globe Indemnity, Underwater Fire. No.
American Accident. and many other old
and reliable insurance companies.
Also seller of bonds. Notary Public
and agent for real estate.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
UODY ALIEN JONES

offices
savings bank Bldg. Tel. 444-J
IfOmci
s23 Stafford 81. Tel. a3G-W.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
MusT SAVE MONEY

WOO VI - WS''~'
"Bobbs is always reminscing. He
seems to live In the past"
"Well, considering the advanced
cost Of living | don't blame him."
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-01-10
Mental Reaervatlon.

ever saw.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

headedness. He is aware that the public
must be taught that the law does not pro-
vide compulsory powers to the boards
decisions.
The present status of the affair is this:
No more offers, suggestions or what not
will be made by the brotherhoods, who
prefer to begin a course of public educa
tion. The offers, suggestions, &C., must
come from the railway managers.
These gentlemen have already made it,
They ask for a 10 per cent. reduction in
wages under a ruling of the labor board.
Conferences must be had with the men of
each road to take up this question. If
they can't agree and the railroad managers
will not back down then the fight will be
resumed.
But Lee and his fellows know how
powerful an agent is time. Conditions
may get better the railway business may
pick up and the reasons for fight may
dwindle away. In the meantime they
counsel the educative process | have re-
ferred to as being undertaken"
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Educated in Public Schools
In Natal State, Illinois

The president of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trainmen, educated in the public
schools of his native State. Illinois, brake
man and then conductor, is about to have
birthday. Just to show that it is not
all pleasure to occupy such a position but
that besides the anxieties it entails the
place calls for many minor sacrifices the
indication is that Mr.. Lee will not be able
TO celebrate his natal anniversary at his
present home in Cleveland. Ohio. These
men. indeed, have not great deal of home
life. This man in particular is here and
there and everywhere about the country
the year through. His home although he
may not admit il. is in the hotel room
where he hangs up his hat. In this city
that hotel room is commonly one in the
Hotel Belmont
The year 1920.2l, eliminating in the re-
cent crisis, has been a severe strain on the
president OF the trainmen. and physically
he has been less able to bear it than usual;
an infection on the cheek developed pain
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Nearly All Are Americans
In the Railway Unions

Mr.. Lee and the presidents of the other
railway brotherhoods consider that they
possess an element of strength in the com
plexion of the organizations. Nearly all
the railroad men are Americans. Although
there exists no positive bar to foreigners.
yet the foreign element in the organiza
tions is almost negligible it is so small
There are no italian brakemen and no
Firms, or exiles from the Balkans. So
when an appeal is made by railroad labor
to the country the leaders say it is from
brother to brother
The salary of William Granville Lee is
not a large one-it is $4,000 a year-con-
siderng the anxious work he has to do
and the fact that he is on the rack most
OF the time. In hisA incumbency of the
presidency of his brotherhood he has, it
is said. been responsible for many changes
which have strengthened Il all along the
line.
II is now in a position to put up
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Many Persons Know Him
Because of Journeys

The railway unions, as is well known
have no central office, thus it happens
that more persons of more different kinds
know the officers better than if they held
kind of star chamber in a fixed place
to which ingress was denied. The impress
sion that Mr.. Lee has given to strangers
whose meetings with him have been in
way accidental bears out what has been
already written. Said one of these persons
who is known as a close observer:
Lee is big man physically and men
tally, well built, but perhaps trihe stout.
He is polite and polished, a good speaker
but he practises inhibition and uses few
words and none that are excited / think
he looks every day of his sixty-two years
at least he does at this time, but that is
due to overwork.
The man is quiet but outspoken Never
under him will his office become a bureau
of suppression. That's factor in his
power with his members they know that
they will get the whole truth from Lee"
President Underwood of the Erie Rail-
road has high opinion of Mr.. Lee as
leader and as a man. He describes him
and has done so often as hard worker
conscientious. a speaker who is always con-
else and to the point. He makes also men
ton of the mans Sdroir fdire. Wherever
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

he learned his knowledge OF the world and
of the men in it, he did learn it thoroughly
and he applies his knowledge with tact
and discretion.
IT'S hard grind he and his fellow
brotherhood presidents are up against.
their work is never ending, and whenever
they least expect it circumstances present
new obstacles. At the moment there is
lull. hut how long this will endure who
can predict" This was said by man
familiar with capital and labor who had
been asked to give his estimate of Mr.. Lee.
1t is a high one. He believes Mr.. Lee has
just the right kind of force and wisdom
that these critical times require.
''In the railway fight" this observer con-
tinued people have dropped from view
certain important things. They fancy for
instance that when this country went into
the war the present increase in wages was
rendered to the men on a kind of salver.
That isn't true. The leaders had to fight
and fight hard for what they got.
well, they got their increase. Now the
men don't want their wages reduced. Who
would? | have heard Mr. Lee give his
views on this question and they are GER
tainly sane and reasonable
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Broader Business Training
Than the Mere Railroad Man

They were mistaken, of course, for the
very traits that they had found fault with
when they were critcisng the vice-presi
free hand. His business training had
been somewhat wider than comes natu-
rally to a railroad man. for in 1889 he
broadened il by accepting the position of
deputy registrar of deeds for Ford county,
Kansas, and he served in that capacity
for three and one-half years.
Then he reentered railway service as
brakeman and switchman with the Wabash
Railway, but after a few months service
he quit and went as brakeman with the
Missouri Pacific. In 1891 he accepted SER
vice with the Union Pacific and five. months
later was promoted to conductor. Lee
held this position at the time of his cleo
tion to the Office of first vicegrand mas
ter of the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men. This was in August, 1895.
Lees service on the mountain railways
was performed under peculiarly trying
conditions. At that time railroadng was
comparatively new in the mountains; air
brakes. automatic couplers and other
safety devices now in effect were unknown.
The mountains. too, we're filled with law
less, irresponsible men and the terminals
where railway employees were forced to
live were comfortless and bare. The towns
were new, most OF the inhabitants still
lived in tents. and gambling houses and
saloons were numerous and popular.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Another Clash in Sight
Over Labor Boards Power

"The last time heard him talk in public
vas against the Canadian compulsory in
dustrial act. He was quietly forceful and
spoke in a way to carry conviction to un-
prejudiced minds. The same force of ar
gument may be expected from him when
the real issue shall be Joined between the
brotherhoods and the labor board, This
is the demand of the labor board to be
given power to enforce its decisions.
That involves another point on which
the public is badly informed. The labor
board cannot by law compel the railroad
men to do anything When this board
said that the recent threat of strike or
the strike IL called was in violation Of the
orders Of itself the railroad brotherhoods
might have replied. Go to hell
They didn't so reply and think their
restraint was primarily due to Lees long
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
How He Handled
An "OutIaw" Strike

His attitude in connection with what he
denominated an illegal strike" is further
proof of the force of the man. First of the
brotherhood presidents he signed the let
ter condemning the promotion of illegal
strikes as efforts to destroy the existing
brotherhoods In this connection he
wrote.
"The loyal membership OF these organiza-
tions should remember that these organi
cations continue TO live and TO prosper
not as result of the assistance and good
wishes of those expelled for engag ging I'm
the illegal strike but over the protest of
such individuals
"The illegal strike of members and
others since April, 1920, on railroads where
these organizations maintain schedules
or working agreements was started 10y
disgruntled individuals solely for the pur
pose ofNdestroying the old established or
eanizations with the hope Of building
the one Big Union. and had those indi
viduals succeeded all the good work Of
the past quarter of a century wouiG nave
been destroyed
"Our general committees on some oi
the largest railroads in the country have
entered into and signed agreements with
the operating officers OF such companies
that former employees who engaged in
the illegal strike mentioned will be re-
turned to service only as new employees
and will not be permitted TO take seniority
rank over loyal members or others EN-
poyed to I'LL vacancies created by such
illegal action"
Great courage was needed, indeed, 10
sign this letter as Mr. Lee did. setting
the example TO his colleagues. and to dis
franchise by one decision several thousand
men. Il is ancient history now and seems
especially stale in the light OF immediate
events. But il Is necessary 20 place it here
or wherever an attempt is being made 20
measure the man.
Now what does he Wish to do? What is
his final aim?
II is admirable 60 notice tdo vast change
for the bettsr IN wages and working hours
Tor railroad men. and these changes have
been brought about i'm a couple Of decades.
really short time as improvements go
Isn't he satisfied with what he and his
fellow presidents in the railway mems
world have accomplished? Evidently not
That admirer Of William G.. Lee who has
already been quoted answered for him:
lee wants TO see his men get reason.
able wages so that they may live in com
fort, free from anxiety and even save
money and buy their little homes. He
wants TO see them allowed time for relaXa-
tion. In word, his ambition for his men
is modest. he only wants them to have
the things that are the general aspiration
of all Americans"
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Leader az Once
On Joining Brotherhood

At this time, too, it was necessary that
one member of train crew should have
some knowledge OF telegraphy Fortu-
rately Lee lad learned the Morse code and
this knowledge served It's good purpose
in securing for him early promotion Dur
ing the time that he was employed on the
Ration Mountain, between Trinidad and
Ration, this requirement served him well
and the company also II was on this
route that he unloaded the first conslgn-
ment Of steel used in the bridges that
we're being constructed to take the places
Of old wooden structures that spanned the
mountain streams. Mr.. Lees railroad
experience thus will be seen TO have in
cluded every class of employment in train
and yard service.
Early in 1889 Mr.. Lee joined the Brother
hood OF Railroad Brakemen and he soon
became prominent In its affairs in his
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

fully and demanded an operation. The
operation and, in fact, the entire period of
illness had to be sandwiched in between
various railway flights across the country
and back.
But all the same this year has shown
the true courage of the man. With no
hesitation, apparently, he brought himself
to cancel the charter of 10000 members of
the brotherhoods because of their violation
of contracts. The organization of railway
bers, is the largest of the railroad group
and has been the hardest hit What the
president did certainly required courage.
In the cancelling process carried out as
sharply and directly as the one on his
own cheek-and perhaps Mr.. Lee took
lesson from his surgeon-he cleared out
his own lodge. that of Kansas City. 1t
involved a trip there to organize a new
local union.
The railway presidents who have met
Mr.. Lee in debate describe him as con-
scientious and well meaning. But these
words ieSSen the man and are the inter
probation of his conservative attitude He
is reasonable, it is true, but beneath his
affablity one senses the strong, forceful
leader. At the same time he gives the
impression of a man charged with heavy
responsibilities and as always being mind
full of them. Always of a most progressive
spirit he may have appeared as people say
he did decade ago to be man of the
hale, rough and ready type.
Now of all his colleagues he is noted for
his courtesy and the agreeable quality of
his personality. Probably there was al
ways a kindly. considerate soul beneath
his busy exterior; it shows now as once
it did not. In considering the arguments
of his colleagues. even of the men he is
engaged in fighting, this officer will yield
in most things as far as his self-respect
and what he owes to his organization will
permit.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Educated in Public Schools of His Natal State
Illinois, He Served as Brakeman and Con-
ductor in the West but for Nearly
Thirty Years He Has Labored
for His Fellows

strong, possibly a winning fight. But in
the presidents opinion the time is not
now and the policy is to be one of watch
iul waiting for the psychological moment.
Therefore on with the quiet and perva-
sive propaganda.
word more about the man himself He
has no relaxations, no games reads tenn
perately and avoids fiction Only occa-
sionally he goes to the theatre but he
likes the movies He is lover of art
in any form, like architecture, and he cares
for good pictures also. But acting dane
ing and kindred exhibitions leave him
cold.
Much of his strength with the trainmen
grows out of his intimate knowledge of
their lives and tolls He has been through
all the experiences they are likely to have
and he sympathiZes with them in their
very natural ambitions From every
standpoint he can view their aspirations
and visualize their needs. Having like
ambitions and aspirations he can weigh
theirs, accept what is reasonable and pos
sible and discard what seems too far
fetched
Lee is an American, and perhaps that
says all But to go on by negations it
may be added that he is anti-socialist anti
bolshevist and anti almost every subver-
sive theory. He does not wish to subvert
any existing law Of government, but in
stead to make the present laws better
understood than they are and in this way
to render men generally happier because
they know when they are well off.
AS a very real admirer of the leader
put it: Mr.. Lee lives to work for al his
men,"
To pass from this inadequate description
Of who w. G. Lee is to what he has done
is to go from the partly imaginative or
tanciful-for who can say the whole truth
about any man?-to the positive real. He
assumed the duties of president of the
Brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen Janu
ary l. 1902 after fourteen years as subor-
dinate officer
There We're misgivings in the organiza-
tion at the time of his election. for al
though all that he had done had benefited
the cause Mr.. Lee is not the type that
makes a good subordinate Thus men who
had watched him through several petty
differences doubted his strength Of self
control.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

THOUGH born in 1859, his friends he hasn't changed
hair in twenty years." and he is far younger ap
pearance than many a Ia his junior.
sen has dictated his policy from the outset
and the conditions which led him think the public
this time would strike of the
railroad brotherhoods judged by this standard.
This has shown the courage Of the man With
hesitation apparently he brought himself cancel the
of contracts
very real admirer summed his character thus: "Mr
Lee lives to work for all his all the time"
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

He has relaxation, games reads temperatey and
avoids fiction He likes the movies but acting, dancing
kindred exhibitions leava him cold.
Lee is big man physically and mentally He is polite
and polished good speaker but he praetises inhibition
and uses few words, n of them excited.
He has been through all the experience. rainmen are
likely TO have and he ympathizes with them
natural ambitions From every standpoint he can view
their aspirations and visualize their needs
Lee is an American, and perhaps that says all IL may
b. added that he antbolshev and anti
everything that is subversive in theory
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Does Much for His Men
In Advancing Wages

Since assuming the duties of President
of the brotherhood Lee has conducted
wage movements in the Eastern, Western
and Southern territories which have re-
suited in material advantag ges to the men.
Under his direct supervision the trainmen
number more than 10000. while it is said
there are more than s2450,000 in its funds,
far exceeding its capital when he assumed
the presidency.
Common sense has dictated his policy
from the outset and the conditions which
led him to think the public at the present
time would in measure approve strike
of the associated railroad brotherhoods
were judged by this standard. The Gov
ernment, he averred. has disappointed the
trainmen in its promises of last summer to
bring down the price of living commodities
so that the men could meet them with
their wages
In his statement regarding the recent
proposed strike Mr.. Lee declared in Oc
tober that the men voted to strike over
his head. Shortly after taking the pulse
of the country on the strike he stated
that I'm his opinion to walk out now
would be insane" These are the recent
evidences Of Mr.. Lees possession of the
admirable quality of common sense.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

4 SAYING quoted from William Gran
~ vile Lee, who as head of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
is particularly interesting at this moment
just following all the talk of big strike
and it's shift into the background. if not
the discard, may throw ray on the man.
He is said to have said this physically
all you do won't make a young man out
of an old one, but mans mind need never
grow old"
Mr. Lee himself is not a young man.
he was born in 1859, but as his friends
who wish to flatter him-even a strike
magnate is susceptible to flattery-say he
hasn't changed hair in twenty years"
While the man is younger in appearance
than his acknowledged years, his hair is
white and there isn't so much of it as when
he used to be conductor on the Atchison
and Santa Fe and there are other marks
pf unflattering time.
Time Has Softened
Former ggressiveness
Chief Of these is the change in his ex-
preston, Aggressiveness was strongly
marked in his face when he was elected
a good many years ago to be vice-presi-
dent of his brotherhood This trait had
faded by several degrees when, after four
teen years of filling that office, he was
elected to succeed the late Pat" Morrissey
as president. Experience of the leadership
of men and contact with leaders opposed
to him whose mentality cannot be under
that there are better ways of getting things
done than by going after them in bulldog
fashion
Indeed, so to heart has this particular
labor man taken his lesson that he is now
considered as the most conservative of the
great railway four, the others of which
are Carter, Stone and Sheppard.
This amelioration of demeanor is not.
however, confined to Mr. Lee; it is gen
eral Labor leaders of today are not ex-
teriorly what they we're ten years ago.
Gone are the times when simply to be
forceful was sufficient, and no present day
leader now puts big cigar in the corner
of his mouth and rests his feet on the
table.
No. conferences between these magnates
and the railway presidents are polite func-
tions. Harsh words are never exchanged.
But in this modern amenity of behavior
it is not likely that any force or strategy
is lost
The New York herald., 1921-11-13
Character Analysis of Man Who Did Much to Avert Str
Little Known to the General Public, His Fame
Is Wide Among Rail Workers, Where His
Invincible Courage Is Respected and
His High Aims for His Men Have
Gained Their Love

ACK
general knowledge of
manWiam Granville Lee head of the Brotherhood
Iralnmen How Lew G. is his nickname his
ershas risen from brakeman such commanding position
world
extraordinary
small of his
him An unnching desire do right by his fellows
large thought
That the public he is
those him presented
to-day.
The New York herald., 1921-11-13

neighborhood. He was member of the
committee that put into effect the first
working agreement for conductors. brake
men and yardmen on the Missouri Pacific.
In 1906 the first collective movement
for train and yardmen for employees in
the Western territory was inaugurated
Lee was then assistant to the Grand Master
and much of the details of that Office was
under his personal direction. He sue
ceeded in obtaining increased wages for
the men in that section.
In the same year he was charged with
the Pittsburgh movement, WHICH included
all the lines entering that city and his
efforts resulted in better service conditions
and increased pay for the yardmen.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-10
State News
CONTINUED from page one)

Tuesday night of j. Porter Stokes,
! travelling salesman, by r. II. Sisco,
civilian guard at the camp. Sisco was
arrested yesterday afternoon by
Prince George county authorities and
taken before a magistrate for hear
ing, but the magistrate held that he
was without jurisdiction, since the
shooting took place on military res
ervation. Stokes is at local hospital
and little hope is entertained for his
recovery.
Norfolk-After limpinG INTO Lynn
haven Roads under her own steam
Yesterday morning at $50 o'clock, the
Clyde Line steamer Apache, with 100
passengers aboard, and which was
partly disabled by the cracking of her
crankshaft twenty-five miles north of
Cape Hatteras, was brought to the
army base piers this afternoon. Her
passengers will proceed to their des-
tination by rail.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-10

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