of the state shall be changed only through a popular convention. The Supreme Court of the state threw Mr. Marshall's constitution in the waste-paper basket.

Among other incongruous absurdities, the document contained a provision that no law should ever be enacted to provide for the recall of judges, nor should the constitution itself be amended to that end. The provisions for the initiative and referendum were so drawn that it would have been almost impossible to put either in motion.

Any influence this relic of the Victorian period may have upon President-elect Wilson or the Democratic party will be against progress. Fortunately, as president of the Senate, he can do but little harm. But what a plight the country would be in if Wilson were to die!

Representative Victor L. Berger has offered to the House of Representatives the Socialist solution of the problem confronting New England in the railroad and transportation monopoly held by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Representative Berger has proposed that the government buy and operate the New Haven.

The resolution came at the opportune time when the attention of Congress was focused on the New England transportation monopoly as the result of the New Haven's

It's coming.

recent attempt to acquire the Grand Trunk Railroad and because of the unpleasant publicity the road has lately received as a result of the report of the federal investigation of the Westport wreck. Although the resolution was promptly referred to a committee where it is probably buried, it attracted more than usual interest among the members of Congress.

The resolution provides for the valua tion of the New Haven by the Department of Commerce and Labor as a first step of the government in acquiring the road. Commenting upon his action, Mr. Berger

said:

"From my standpoint the resolution really was superfluous, since I had already introduced a resolution that the governinent buy and operate all American railroads, of which the New Haven, of course, is one. However, the time seemed opportune to show the value of collective ownership of a railroad because the benefits of such ownership of the New Haven are so apparent that the dullest person can see them."

The following is the text of the resolution:

"Whereas, The management of the New Haven & Hartford Railroad furnishes another glaring illustration that under private ownership and private management of railroads the interest of the public is made subservient to private interest by speculation, poor service and exorbitant rates, to which must be added the great number of accidents demanding a heavy toll of human life; and

"Whereas, Government regulation and supervision as based upon the Interstate Commerce Law have not proved to be satisfactory or efficient in this or any other case; and

"Whereas, Railroads are a public utility which is monopolistic by nature, thus we have only to choose between a private monopoly and a public monopoly; and "Whereas, The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad now enjoys what may be considered a monopoly of the railroad business of New England; therefore, be it

"Resolved, That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor be and he is hereby instructed to furnish to the House of Representatives an estimate of the value of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, all of its connections, and all of its property, said estimate to furnish the basis for the acquirement of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad by the United States."

The iron shipbuilders, shipwrights, boilermakers, blacksmiths, machinists and all the other trades associated in the

construction of a modern steamship are arranging to amalgamate into one great organization which will have a membership of half a million and have absolute control over all the men employed in the ship yards of Great Britain. The imn ediate objective of the amalgamated union and the incentive of its formation is the enforcement of the eight hour day, but the organization is to be permanent and has been made possible by the realization that the only hope for success in the struggle for better conditions against the immense wealth and power of the corporations is in an organization that gives to each man employed in the industry the support of every one of the remaining half million of his fellow-workmen.

"Don't knock-kick. An intelligent kick, properly placed and backed with data, will accomplish more than innumerable scattered knocks."-Boileau.

Brother A. C. Rogers, L. U. No. 31, Syracuse, N. Y.

Brother Alfred Firth, L. U. No. 72, Pittsburg, Pa.

Brother E. L. Wright, L. U. No. 459, Texarkana, Ark.

Brother Mathius Weber, L. U. No. 16, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Fred Senner, L. U. No. 781, Milwaukee, Wis.

Brother Geo. C. Stevens, L. U. No. 115, St. Louis, Mo.

Brother George Fogg, L. U. No. 191, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Meyer Rachstein, L. U. No. 942, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Brother John Noonan, L. U. No. 37, Detroit, Mich.

Brother W. D. Anderson, L. U. No. 420, Washington, D. C.

Brother J. Hansen, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Harry A. McEvoy, L. U. No. 109, Omaha, Neb.

Brother Leopold Becht, L. U. No. 830, Chicago, Ill.

Brother W. E. Jones, L. U. No. 180, Oak Park, Ill.

Brother Edward Tatro, L. U. No. 741, Arctic Center, R. I.

Brother Ole Christiansen, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Harry Seidler, L. U. No. 46, St. Louis, Mo.

Brother R. B. Crawford, L. U. No. 116, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Brother Geo. W. Riley, L. U. No. 7, Toledo, Ohio.

Brother R. T. Jennings, L. U. No. 877, Sapulpa, Okla.

Brother Edward Stubbs, L. U. No. 90, Springfield, Ill.

Brother Henry Cotter, L. U. No. 402, E. Boston, Mass.

Brother J. A. Poelling, L. U. No. 115, St. Louis, Mo.

Brother John Connor, L. U. No. 1015, Bernardsville, N. J.

Brother L. T. Burmaster, L. U. No. 186, Minneapolis, Minn.

Brother John O'Conner, L. U. No. 192, Stamford, Conn.

Brother Joseph A. Skelly, L. U. No. 848, New York, N. Y.

Brother Frank Egelund, L. U. No. 27, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Andrew R. Rankin, L. U. No. 277, Atlantic City, N. J.

Brother W. O. Lyons, L. U. No. 611, Mattoon, Ill.

Brother Daniel J. Splaine, L. U. No. 605, Medford, Mass.

Brother Timothy O'Connor, L. U. No. 19, San Francisco, Cal.

Brother Sam Sharples, L. U. No. 290, Westfield, Mass.

Brother C. H. Wolcott, L. U. No. 735, Fulton, N. Y.

Brother Julius Karfunkel, L. U. No. 499, New York, N. Y.

Brother S. G. Drummond, L. U. No. 19, San Francisco, Cal.

Brother Alphonso Plue, L. U. No. 94, Pittsfield, Mass.

Brother James Moon, L. U. No. 19, San Francisco, Cal.

Brother Alex C. Koch, L. U. No. 419, N. Yakima, Wash.

Brother Wm. C. Newmiller, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Jas. B. Flinn, L. U. No. 400, Long Branch, N. J.

Brother Herman Nedved, L. U. No. 273, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Emile Eickmann, L. U. No. 166, New Orleans, La.

Brother Wm. F. McGarrity, L. U. No. 94, Pittsfield, Mass.

Brother Wm. M. Shook, L. U. No. 975, Mechanicsville, N. Y.

Brother Michael Klemm, L. U. No. 50, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Brother Chas. Klein, L. U. No. 147, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Frank Dunhoft, L. U. No. 50, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Brother George Hogan, L. U. No. 36, Jersey City, N. J.

Brother Anton Winter, L. U. No. 454, New York, N. Y.

Brother August Heiter, L. U. No. 848, New York, N. Y.

Brother George Klass, L. U. No. 424, Little Rock, Ark.

Brother John O'Donnell, L. U. No. 48, Worcester, Mass.

Brother R. O. Williams, L. U. No. 69, Utica, N. Y.

Brother William Randle, L. U. No. 49, Memphis, Tenn.

Brother John Miller, L. U. No. 426, Philadelphia, Pa.

Brother John Conlon, L. U. No. 150, Rochester, N. Y.

Brother F. G. Klingensmith, L. U. No. 150, Rochester, N. Y.

Brother Clarence Doty, L. U. No. 713, Port Jervis, N. Y.

Brother D. W. Harrows, L. U. No. 64, Tacoma, Wash.

Brother George Phaton, L. U. No. 89, North Hudson, N. J.

Brother L. J. Clevland, L. U. No. 272, Monterey, Cal.

Erother Benjamin Osgood, L. U. No. 338, Boston, Mass.

Brother Adolph Padelt, L. U. No. 37, Detroit, Mich.

Brother James Bilton, L. U. No. 3, Toronto, Ont., Can.

Brother Burney Rutland, L. U. No. 1082, Herrin, Ill.

Brother Otto Schlueter, L. U. No. 499, New York, N. Y.

Brother Frank Sutter, L. U. No. 275, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Wm. Stephens, L. U. No. 115, St. Louis, Mo.

Brother D. C. Baillie, L. U. No. 495, New Westminster, B. C., Can.

Brother Jas. H. Dees, L. U. No. 913, San Mateo, Cal.

Brother Anton Olsen, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Hilmer Paulsen, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother Sven Hardin, L. U. No. 194, Chicago, Ill.

Brother John D. Mullen, L. U. No. 285, Rome, N. Y.

Brother Chas. Fontain, Jr., L. U. No. 682, Woonsocket, R. I.

DUE BOOKS LOST OR STOLEN

Of Bro. Walter Geist, Card No. 3697, member of L. U. 90, Springfield, Ill. Notify Bro. H. V. Dutton, secretary, 2171⁄2 N. 5th St., Springfield.

Of Bros. Frank Fredericks, Card No. 34655 and Adolf Hillenbrand, Card No. 71588, members of L. U. No. 454, New York City. Notify Bro. Frank Hayes, secretary of local, 4431 Third Ave., New York City.

Of Bro. W. M. Jenkins, Card No. 57790, member of L. U. No. 401, Hot Springs, Ark. Notify Bro. C. M. Bohnen, 14 W. Brook Ave., Hot Springs, Ark.

Of Bro. R. James Gargan, Card No. 87151, member of L. U. No. 237, Portland, Me. Notify Bro. W. H. Casey, secretary of local, 50 Myrtle street, Portland, Me.

Of Bro. Roy F. Standard, Card No. 85338. Notify Bro. E. C. Corbin, secretary of L. U. 29, Galesburg, Ill., at 225 Summer street, that city.

Of Bro. Elmer Schnek, Card No. 18805, member of L. U. No. 130, Houston, Tex. Notify Bro. A. Gourley, secretary, Box 361, Houston, Tex.

TO FINANCIAL SECRETARIES. Death Benefits Not Part of Estate of Deceased Members.

Death benefits can not be paid to the administrator of a deceased member's estate, nor to the executor of his will-unless the executor or administrator or the estate is designated as "beneficiary" by the deceased. The reason for this is that a death benefit is not part of a member's estate, as it has no existence until his death, therefore he can not dispose of it by testament, nor-if the member fails to designate his beneficiary does it become part of his estate.

A death benefit is similar to life insurance. Insurance is paid to the person named in the policy-a death benefit is paid to the person or persons named by the member as his beneficiary. If no beneficiary is designated the money is paid to the next of kin-if no relatives are known to the local union of which deceased was a member.

Neither insurance nor death benefits can be attached for debt or used for funeral expenses, except that where no relatives are found, or the remains are not claimed, $50 of the amount due may be used for the latter purpose.

REPORT HONORARY MEMBERS AND

APPPENTICES.

Some secretaries, whose monthly reports otherwise are always accurate, fail to give the number of honorary members and apprentices. This information is important as the number of copies of the Painter and Decorator ordered each month is determined by the membership as shown by the latest monthly reports.

Apprentices and honorary members receive our official journal so that their omission from reports makes it difficult to estimate accurately the quantity needed.

THE FOLLOWING RETURNS WERE INCLUDED IN THE COUNT AS, THOUGH SOMEWHAT IRREGULAR, THE INTENT WAS CLEAR.

L. U. No. 653. Votes credited to Davis as shown by ballots. Tally sheet credited votes to Allen.

Returns from L. U. 481 in bad condition, evidently due to rough handling in transit.

L. U. 625; eleven votes, five improperly marked.

L. U. 688; failed to return unused ballots.

RETURNS FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCALS WERE NOT COUNTED FOR THE REASONS GIVEN:

L. U. 366; three votes, A. McKay. L. U.'s No. 382 and 603, no ballots accompanied tally sheet.

L. U. No. 536, ballots not detached from stubs; pad intact.

L. U. 1018, tally sheet blank-election proceedings irregular.

No Vote Returned:

L. U. Nos. 105, 122, 207, 252, 280, 283, 627, 637, 655, 724, 729, 745, 763, 803, 824, 859, 887, 969, 1013, 1035.

We, the Election Board, appointed under the provisions of Section 211 of the constitution of the Brotherhood to canvass the votes in the election of a Fourth General Vice-President, after carefully examining all ballots, tally sheets and poll books, do hereby certify that the above is a true and correct statement of the result as shown by the returns forwarded to the General Office at LaFayette, Indiana,

We, therefore, declare Joseph F. Clarke, of Local Union No. 64, Tacoma, Wash.,

41 Schweigel, E. F.

Votes received

Votes

Name

received

337 McClellan, Taz. W... 321 O'Connor, Jos. V.

190

271

731 Saylor, Fred....

273

98

178

541 Taylor, T. W..

293

334 Watson, Frank.

299

91 Wells, Harry...

380

273 Welsh, J. R.

306

62

.1026 Smith, A. C....

367 Wright, I. D..

To the Officers and Members of the G. E. B.:

In compliance with your instruction, I attended the convention of the Railroad Department of the A. F. of L., held in the city of Rochester, N. Y.

The call for the convention stated that it would be held Friday, November 8, but on account of the same set of delegates representing their respective organizations in the Metal Trades Convention, which was being held in that city at the same time, the Railroad Convention did not get started until Saturday, November 9, 1912.

Most of the first day was spent in discussing the proposed changes in the by-laws of the Department suggested at the Atlantic City special conference last August. The convention finally decided to appoint a committee on law to embody in the constitution the several suggestions relative to making the department active the same as the Metal Trades and the Building Trades departments of the A. F. of L. It was not until late in the following week that this committee was ready to report.

President Perham called the convention together on Saturday, November 16. The delegates got down to business, taking up the law committee's report seriatim. They finally amended the whole constitution of the Department with the exception of the name. The changes were shaped after the laws of the Federation of Federations with which you are already familiar. The one change that affects our organization most is that making the per capita tax 4 of a cent, to be paid upon its total membership by each of the organizations affiliated with the Department. Our organization being the largest in affiliation, we will have to pay the bulk of the tax and still have but a small percentage of our membership working under the control of the Department. I fought against the method of taxation as did Brother Skemp, who came into the con

vention as this matter was under discussion, but we were outnumbered. If we remain in this Department we shall have to pay on the full membership of the Brotherhood.

The law first reported by the committee provided for a tax of 3 cents per member on all members that work in the car industry. That would suit our organization better. Personally, I believe that at the 4 cent rate the Department will have more money than it needs.

The new laws provide that the President and the Secretary shall be paid officers. Brothers A. O. Wharton, of the International Association of Machinists, and John Scott, of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, were respectively elected to these positions. This Department can be of vast assistance to our Brotherhood if the laws governing it can be carried out. I trust that the change in the laws will make it beneficial to all. Will report more fully at the January session of the General Executive Board.

Jos. F. KELLEY, 2d G. V.-P.

EXPELLED.

John Charton, by L. U. No. 69, Utica, N. Y.

P. Johnstone, J. Blackwood, P. W. Eldridge, H. Paterson, J. Nicol and W. Sherwood, by L. U. 138, Vancouver, B. C., Can.

FINED.

Bro. E. J. Matthews, member of L. U. No. 221, Austin, Tex.

Bro. Edward Lampman, member of L. U. No. 12, Troy, N. Y.

CONSTITUTIONS IN FRENCH.

Local unions desiring the constitution in the French language can obtain copies from the General Office at the same price as charged for the constitution in English.