New Britain herald., 1927-12-07
INJURY IS FATAL
 ID VIM. PREMIER
Former Engineers President
 Dies in Cleveland

Cleveland, Dec. [ tP,-Willam E. Premier, fa, former president of the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En- gineers, died today.
 Mir. Prcnter had been in ill health since last summer, when he suffered an attack Of pneumonia during the triennial convention of the brother hood here. About six weeks ago he also sustained a fractured hip in an automobile accident in New York.
 During the 1927 convention the policies Of Premier and his aides were attacked by delegates, and for several weeks controversy ragged on the convention floor. Charges Of lax ity and carelesSneSs in administ!a- ton of the hrotherhood's financial interests were made against Pi>nter and other executive officers Of the organization,
 His Office Abolished
 A resolution Was passed abclsh- ing the offices of president, first and second vice presidents and secretary trea surer. This automatically un- seated Mir. Prenter. The brother hood voted to return to the form Of organization prior to the building up of numerous financial institutions under the leadership of Warren s Stone, Under the plan Alvanley Johnson, grand chief engineer, De came the highest executive officer Charges of laxity and carelessnese were made against Premier, but they did not come before the convention for action as his illness prevented his appearing 10 defend himself.
 Several ot his colleagues were found guilty Of similar charges. No specific charges against him ever were made pubic
 Premier began his railroad career al the age of 19 as locomotive hre- man. Ever since 1878 he has served as local or international officer Of the brotherhood. A number of years prjer to the choice of Warren S. stone as head of the organization. Mir, Premier was selected as secre- tarv-treasurer of the insurance asso- ciation of the organization.
 At the 1904 convention in Los Angeles he was elected first grand engineer For more than 20 years Mr. Premier was a close fellow or ocer with Mir. Stone and it was un- der their direction that the large Brotherhood office building here was erected and made to pay for itseit and another 22-story bank building was put up. It was often said tha' Stone and Premier were an unpeat- able pair. stone presented the Brotherhoed's case forcibly in pubiic while Premier stayed in the o1ice and due up facts and figures td prove it.
 Ability For Figures
 He had marked ability for tg'lfes and at one time handled s2o'ooo'' a0o a year of the Brotherhooh funds At one time he served a. ,ice-president. cashier or director 0 ten of the Brotherhood banks an' was on the board of directors O half a dozen investment conlpahi's
 Rack of Mir. Prenter's years O services to the organization lies story of patient preparahon' boI' in Philadelphia. at the age Of SD his narents took him 10 Belfast Ire land As soon as he finished hH schooling. he went to work TOT 'h' Postal Telegraph company as an oP' ero,or and was with them mnl nf narents brought him back to To ronto. There at the age or l" h' began firing locomotive Ter ,h' Grand Trunk railroad, was promoted to engineer in 1S7s and lmmea'a'''S joined the Brotherhood.
 Promotions Follow Quickly
 His election as a local officer 0 b;s division followed soon. He wa raneatedlv reelected, cuimina1lhe " his selection as chairman oi '"' Ottawa convention of the Rroth'f hood In 1896. At that convention the delegates elected him genera soora.ary-treasllrer of the Locomo five Engineers Mutual life ana Ac ridcnt Insurance association' lFcI ouslv he had organized Ill" '" radian Railway Accident msuranc' company.
 Jis rise from that time on In in Prothcrhoods affairs was sur" an rapia ending in his election to tn presidency on June 1I, 1925.
 E\GNIENE\V ANNOUNCED