Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/291

 Armistice, and the Society was represented by three official candidates, Mr. Bromley in North East Leeds, Mr. Gregory at Nuneaton, and Mr. Mason at Chester. How disappointing to Labour that election of December, 1918, proved to be is now a matter of history. It was a khaki and Coalition election, the dominant issues being the amount of German indemnity and the punishment of the Kaiser. It came hard upon the eight hours day victory previously described, and Mr. Geo. Moore, the Assistant Secretary, and father of the Orphan Fund, hit upon the very happy idea of celebrating the victory by every member devoting one day's pay to augment the Orphan Fund, upon which recent years had taken heavy toll. It is one of the priceless departments of the Society, and the idea caught on at once. Some gave a day's pay, some gave donations, some promoted special enterprises and subscription lists, and the total result was a magnificent fillip to the deserving fund.

The Report for the year 1918 showed total funds to have reached £241,893, an increase during the year of £11,465. The membership stood at 39,940, an increase of 3,236 during the year, and there were 338 branches, an increase of fourteen. The value per member at the close of the war era was £6 Is. 2d., a position which compared most favourably with other unions. Superannuation benefits had been increased by £681, and three elections had cost £1,552. The circulation of the "Journal" had risen to 15,240 copies per issue, and all indications were of even greater progress in the future. Unfortunately, seventy-eight of our members were killed on active service during the year, as compared with 47 during 1917. In a New Year letter to branches, dated January, 1919, Mr. Bromley wrote:—

"The great European War is ended, and our members will be shortly returning from Army Service to their old occupations, and they will have to admit that our Society, at least, has not forgotten them, or been idle in efforts for their welfare during their absence; for not only have we kept unbroken their membership without contribution, and cared for the dependants of the fallen, but have prepared a better footplate life for them