Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

what shall the future be? We are listening, but the echo has not reached us yet.

MUSIC AND HEALTH. [Orison Swett Marden, in "Success Magazine."]

Music has a decided influence upon the blood pressure in the arteries, and upon the respiration. We all know how it soothes, refreshes, and rests us when jaded and worried. When its sweet harmonies fill the soul, all cares, worries, and anxieties fly away.

Many nervous diseases have been cured by music, while others have been greatly retarded in their development by it. Anything which keeps the mind off our troubles tends to restore harmony throughout the body.

cheer

All the uplifting, encouraging, producing emotions, the emotions which create hope and buoyancy of spirits, expectancy of better things-all optimistic emotions have a decidedly beneficial influence upon the health.

A feeling of uplift, of happiness, and wellbeing, quickens the heart's action, increases the circulation of the blood, and tends to open up all the avenues to health. Worry, fear, anxiety, jealously-all the destructive emotions-tend to give a sense of restriction and repression. They inhibit the heart's action rather than accelerate it. Where these emotions predominate there is a sense of constriction through the whole arterial system; even the nerve centers feel the suppression and constriction.

Whatever makes us happy, whether it is a good or useful story, a good joke, or the tonic which comes from success or any unusual achievement, tends to produce health and mental well-being.

A SILENT TRAGEDY.

[Edwin Markham, in "Success Magazine."]

The National Bureau of Labor is now making an extended investigation into the condition of women and children in our American industries. Light is certainly needed on this grave matter. A nation that will not care for its working women and children should have its name blotted from the book of life.

Most piteous is the silent tragedy of the working child-the child who is, in this era of machinery, whirled in for the first time to slave by the side of grown-up men. The

sacrifice of children in some sudden catastrophe arouses the instant compassion, the swift defense of the nation. With quick accord, the people demand that no more forever shall there be a Slocum, or a Boyertown, or a Collinwood disaster. But if we could all realize the long misery, the distressful torture, the sure destruction of the host of little ones drawn into child labor, little ones dying sometimes as surely, though seldom so spectacularly, as the children of the world-watched tragedies-if we could realize it all, how long think you, friends, would this crime of civilization stand against the cyclone blast of an aroused public opinion? Child labor has come in so gradually, it is carried on so quietly, it is defended so skillfully by those interested in grinding children into dividends, that few parents of America realize that even the deficient census of eight years ago gives a total of nearly two million children under fourteen at work in wageearning labors.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S WARNING.

It is not necessary nor fitting here that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions; but there is one point, with its connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor, in the structure of government.

Labor is the superior of capital and deserves much the higher consideration.

No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty; none less inclined to take or touch what they have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political power. which they already possess, and which, if surrendered, will surely be used to close the door of advancement to such as they, and to fix new burdens and disabilities upon them, till all of liberty shall be lost.President Lincoln's Message of Dec. 3, 1861.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

CLERK.

Published Monthly by Brotherhood of Railway Clerks. Wilbur Braggins, Editor-in-Chief. R. E. Fisher, Business Manager.

VOL. VII.

[blocks in formation]

Office of Publication, Kansas City Life Bldg., Kansas City, Mo.
W. N. Gates, Advertising Manager, Garfield Building, Cleveland, O.

AUGUST, 1908.

DEMAND FOR ORGANIZERS. During the past thirty days many demands for organizers have been made upon the Grand President. In some cases the purpose in view is to build up the mem-. bership in particular localities or sections, but in most cases the purpose is to complete organization to an effective basis or increase the membership upon certain lines in preparation for presenting propositions for contracts to the officials, or to secure revision of existing contracts.

This is a very encouraging feature because it evidences the fact that the members generally are taking an interest in building up the organization because they are awakened to the necessity therefor and desire to gain the benefits that are possible of attainment in that way.

It is regrettable indeed that the requests for organizers cannot all be granted; that is impossible at this time. The numerical strength of the brotherhood, and consequently its financial resources, is not large enough yet to permit it to employ as many organizers as are needed; but we are amply justified in believing that we shall reach that status in the near future.

At the present time the members whose requests cannot be complied with must go ahead with the work as best they can without the aid of organizers. And in some cases there is no doubt but that they can get along nearly if not quite as well without such aid. Indeed, there is danger that members will sometimes become possessed of the idea that an organizer only is required to build up their membership to

$1.00 per Year.

No. 8

the desired extent; and then they are likely to commit the error of ceasing individual effort, neglecting to improve opportunities to advance the work as they occur and to then charge the Grand Lodge with the responsibility for their omissions, because it cannot send an organizer to do the work which possibly they alone can do.

The question of distributing our organizers is a very important one and difficult to solve; because of the necessity of employing them where their efforts will bring the best results while at the same time trying to place them where the membership is entitled to their aid and still being unable to satisfy all members who want them. All members must therefore realize that if it were possible their wishes would be gladly met; and be patient until they can be.

Our members in two sections of the country thoroughly appreciate the fact that it costs a good deal to employ organizers and that the Grand Lodge cannot employ enough to satisfy all demands; therefore they are raising the funds necessary to meet one-half of the expense and when that has been done, will ask the Grand Lodge to send them an organizer each and pay the other half of the expense. And they will get the organizers.

During this period of business depression we have got to be cautious and economical. Several, if not all other, organizations, have already reduced their forces of organizers and it is possible that we may yet have to reduce our force. We hope that it will not become necessary to

lay off any of our organizers and strict economy will be practiced and the utmost care exercised in the effort to avoid having to do so. For it is important that we shall at least maintain our present numerical strength during this period, even if we do not make a substantial gain; then when good times come again we can forge ahead rapidly instead of losing time while retrieving losses.

But there is work for all members to do that can be done without the aid or encouragement of an organizer; and no member should neglect to watch for and give proper attention to every such opportunity. There is other work to be done that will cost money beside the work of the organizer. And those for whom such work is to be done must recognize the fact that if it is done, they will have to pay for it; no one else will, nor should they if they would.

Members must learn the wisdom and realize the value of going into their pockets freely and promptly to meet necessary expenses of the work which is not done by themselves and of doing cheerfully and promptly that which cannot be done by others. It cost members of the older organizations a great deal more money and work to get the results they sought and have won than our members have yet devoted to the same purpose; BUT THE PROFITS SECURED WERE MANY TIMES GREATER THAN COULD HAVE BEEN REALIZED IN ANY OTHER LIKE INVESTMENT.

W. B.

[blocks in formation]

its of other committees, especial mention is merited by our committee on legislation, of which Brother J. H. Graham of Boston Lodge No. 119 of Boston, Mass., was chairman. The mass of proposed legislation handed to them for consideration was stupendous and enough to make some men "quit their jobs," but this committee went through it all, making their final report by wise selection from all of the propositions and suggesting action regarding proposed legislation which they did not deem wise to adopt.

All of our work will be known ere this is read and it will be necessary now for all of us if we expect results from our convention, to do everything in our power to strengthen our forces. To anyone who has watched the trend of recent events, it must be apparent that the railroad clerk is sorely in need of organization, our organization; and to those who are now members, let me say your membership is absolutely necessary to retain what you have secured through the efforts of our organization, and to those who have not as yet secured any benefits, it certainly must appeal to you as the only means whereby benefits can be obtained, and where or by what means or from what source can a wage earner obtain better results than from investment in a labor organization-if you want to put it in that light. In our office, for instance, we have received an increase of 10 to 20 per cent in two years. Permit me to make it plainer-we pay 75c per month dues. "John Brown" received a $5 per month raise, in twelve months he pays into the organization $6; the organization secured for him for the same period $60. By a simple method of mathematics we find that for his investment of $6 he receives a profit of $54 and those who have received a larger increase, their profits are proportionately larger and you can always depend upon those returns by retaining your membership in the order. This is absolutely essential for a continuance of the profits you are now receiving from your investment. Need I tell you why? I think not, because I am satisfied that our members must realize the necessity of maintaining a solid membership in order to perpetuate success, and the investment mentioned here is what we offer to those who are not members, but bear in mind we do not propose to do all of this as soon as you join.

« AnteriorContinuar »