Trainman News

BRT Is On Its Toes:

Railroads Never Offer Voluntary Wage Hikes, Pres. Kennedy Says

CARBONDALE, Ill.--The railroads never come forth with voluntary wage increases, and the present-day high rates have been won by the Brotherhood in its relentless campaign to improve conditions for its members.

A largely attended BRT and LA meeting here Dec. 16 sponsored by BRT Lodge 981, was told that by President Kennedy.

Other lodges represented at the meeting were BRT 115, 242, 536, 629, 931, 967 and LA 373 and 549.

F. S. Phelps, general chairman on the Illinois Central, was toastmaster and introduced the Brotherhood leader to the large throng.

The IC general chairman paid tribute to past and present leadership of the Brotherhood and declared that progress is the sum total of our desires thru our BRT organization to accomplish something for future generations.

President Kennedy, in his address, traced the steady growth of the Brotherhood down thru the years and told of the early days of the Brotherhood when a "rail" was fired for belonging to the Brotherhood.

He told of the vital work being done by the Legislative and Protective Departments of the Brotherhood, and of the many benefits being paid out by the Insurance Department.

Mr. Kennedy lauded the Ladies' Auxiliary and its officers, and told of the great assistance it has always given the Brotherhood. The BRT leader went on to tell of the many Brotherhood members who are in responsible civic positions thruout the country today.

In politics, President Kennedy declared, the Brotherhood will support men who represent all the people, regardless of their party affiliation, and this will be true right down the line.

We should all be thankful that we live in a country where we can enjoy our freedoms, Mr. Kennedy told his audience.

Seventy-seven-year-old C. L. Hall (981), who started railroading at 19 as a brakeman on the old Chicago & Texas Railroad and who has been a continuous member of the BRT since Dec. 22, 1901, was awarded his 50-year pin by President Kennedy.

Hall thanked the BRT leader for his award and said this was his first meeting with a President of the Brotherhood. The oldtimer showed his 1901 receipt.

Up until his retirement 11 years ago, 50-Year-Member Hall had worked as a switchman, brakeman and conductor. He joined the Brotherhood in 1901 in Lodge 549 and also has been a member of Lodge 488, in addition to Lodge 981, during his career.

The BRT veteran, who has done plenty of traveling in his day, doesn't like traveling.

"If I can help it, I'll never leave Carbondale," he said.

He said he had never used his annual pass on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, but Mrs. Hall, who is a 47-year member of the Ladies' Auxiliary, has used it several times. She went to the LA convention in Columbus, Ohio, last year and the 1908 convention in Baltimore.

Hall retired as a Missouri Pacific conductor in June, 1940, at Kingsville, Tex.

"Every now and then my feet get to itchin' to go back to work," he said, "but today the trains are too fast."

"If we made 30 miles an hour on the old Chicago & Texas,--we were flying."

Other speakers at the meeting included E. W. Collins, field supervisor; Roy-Hill, Lodge 629; H. D. Sharp, 981 local chairman; and B. J. Deery, secretary of Illinois Central general committee.

Also seated at the head table were: R. S. Smith, president; Charles A. Hall, secretary, and C. E. Ebersohl, treasurer, of Lodge 981.

A pot luck luncheon was enjoyed at IOOF Hall. Chairman of arrangements for the meeting was Local Chairman H. D. Sharp.