THE NATIONAL FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

THE NATIONAL FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION.

前首席乔治·赫尔（George C.uniting their forces as to have “respectability, power, efficiency, and protection." In his "extensive observations of the splendidly equipped firemen’s associations of the old world” he confesses to being "humiliated” by the contrast between theirs and those in this country. He found there “every nation with a thoroughly federated fire service, [and] the leading men of the country in the organisation; even royalty, in many instances, participating in the ser vices.” He found these men “eminent in the councils of the government, [and that] it was an honor to be an officer in the fire service.” I found (he adds) a total absence of that barbarian principle at the spoils system so prevalent in our country, which uses our offices as a convenience to reward or avenge henchmen in this country. In our country, instead of a union of organisations, such as our National Federation proposes, we have sixty or seventy State and district associations unacquainted with each other, isolated from each other, without the shadow of a common ground of union with some firemen's organisation, hardly a grade above chaos and falling into decadence, instead of breathing the air of life and inspiration that union would give. I know our State associations, many of them, do good work in the local way; but how infinitely greater would be their scope of activity, if they could avail themselves of the inspiration, power and utility that comes from union—by union, without curtailing or abridging a single rule or purpose of their local law, right or privilege. On the other hand, an enormous gain to their fund of knowledge, power, and respectability that would come from mutual acquaintance, mutual consent, mutual co-operation, and mutual protection, which nearly all inferior orders of men always have. Indifference to union, organisation, and study, he points out. forms the chief obstacles to remedy the evils that afflict the fire service. "The American people are generous and ready with their homage for the fireman; but he stubbornly fails to put himstlf by organisation in shape to receive and utilise the spontaneous aid of the public. The National Firemen’s association claims to have “one of the most splendid codes that can be devised for its present purposes. There is room for improvement, when improvement is necessary. The work is slow, as in all European countries; but it recognises no branch discriminations in the fire service. The paid, the volunteer fire service must be united to form the federation in this, our country. There is a harmless illusion in some quarters that men who fight fires in thirty-three-story buildings are the only ones that represent the fire service of America. This should be handled mercilessly, for seven-tenths of the fire service of this country are volunteer, constituting the bulk, the business, the life and the energy of the State association membership. Paid and volunteer must be one in organisation.” Chief Hale would have all the different associations federated and send delegates to the annual convention, as should, also, the fire departments of cities and towns, and individual firemen if thev feel so disposed. “In this way, the National Federation will achieve a representation of the service in all the States. The American Federation. like those of the old world, should "build itself up in technology from within and not wait for the whip of the underwriter to develop efficiency m the service.” It should “educate and equip" its members, “provide the drills by counsel and study, and even demand and secure the passage of salutary laws.” The organisation should cause the circulation of fire literature, for (says the author of the paper), “there is a shameful lack of patronage to our tire journals. They would constitute a most valuable aid to this critically needed work of unionising our associations into a national body. They are already the only means of revealing the existence of even neighboring associations to firemen. The National Legislature could then be reached, while now none of the associations would feel authorised to send a lobbyist or even memorialise Congress. The Federation would, in turn, have the combined knowledge of treating fire problems afforded by the experience of different States. The fire federation finis rests with different associations, and, if it fails, the entire service of the United States should immediately cease to complain, for there is no remedy for evil, except in following the spirit of the age and this is an age of organisations and unions, and I am fully prepared to sav without fear of contradiction, that the [members of the] fire service do not need or deserve sympathy as long as they are indifferent to the indicated need of federating as other unions do.” The paper concludes with an earnest appeal to all in that service to join the organisation and for as many as possible to be present at the next convention, which is to be held in Chicago on September 28, 29, 30 and October 1. The above aims of the association will form one of the chief subjects discussed. Another will be to arrange for the acceptance of the offer of the managers of the Louisiana State Purchase exposition to hold a firemen's congress at St. Louis next year. Secretary Gillen, 175 Monroe street, Chicago, will give all information as to the forthcoming convention. The convention of the association falls in with the celebration of Chicago’s Centennial, which will afford great attractions to the visitors, many of whom will be firemen from every State in the Union. One of the most interesting and at the same time most touching sights will be the parade of the city’s veteran volunteer firemen, who came to the front as firefighters away back as far as 1849 and 1850, of whom there are about 100 left out of 500. They will haul their old hand engine behind them as they did fifty years ago. The contrast between then and now will he an education in itself. The attention of the delegates to the convention will not by any means be devoted to pleasure only. During its sessions interesting papers will be read and important discussions held on subjects pertaining to the fire service, great stress being laid on the divorcement of polities from that service, the merit system, and the benefit or the reverse of the present civil service system, so far as fire departments are concerned. Another subject for discussion will by the propriety of selecting one day in the year as a National Fiermen's Memorial Day, and how it should be observed. It is hoped that many Eastern firemen will be present and help on the good work as proposed by the association, and thus make it a power for good among the firemen of the country. To do so calls for the co-operation of every fireman in the United States.

前首席乔治·赫尔（George C.uniting their forces as to have “respectability, power, efficiency, and protection." In his "extensive observations of the splendidly equipped firemen’s associations of the old world” he confesses to being "humiliated” by the contrast between theirs and those in this country. He found there “every nation with a thoroughly federated fire service, [and] the leading men of the country in the organisation; even royalty, in many instances, participating in the ser vices.” He found these men “eminent in the councils of the government, [and that] it was an honor to be an officer in the fire service.” I found (he adds) a total absence of that barbarian principle at the spoils system so prevalent in our country, which uses our offices as a convenience to reward or avenge henchmen in this country. In our country, instead of a union of organisations, such as our National Federation proposes, we have sixty or seventy State and district associations unacquainted with each other, isolated from each other, without the shadow of a common ground of union with some firemen's organisation, hardly a grade above chaos and falling into decadence, instead of breathing the air of life and inspiration that union would give. I know our State associations, many of them, do good work in the local way; but how infinitely greater would be their scope of activity, if they could avail themselves of the inspiration, power and utility that comes from union—by union, without curtailing or abridging a single rule or purpose of their local law, right or privilege. On the other hand, an enormous gain to their fund of knowledge, power, and respectability that would come from mutual acquaintance, mutual consent, mutual co-operation, and mutual protection, which nearly all inferior orders of men always have. Indifference to union, organisation, and study, he points out. forms the chief obstacles to remedy the evils that afflict the fire service. "The American people are generous and ready with their homage for the fireman; but he stubbornly fails to put himstlf by organisation in shape to receive and utilise the spontaneous aid of the public. The National Firemen’s association claims to have “one of the most splendid codes that can be devised for its present purposes. There is room for improvement, when improvement is necessary. The work is slow, as in all European countries; but it recognises no branch discriminations in the fire service. The paid, the volunteer fire service must be united to form the federation in this, our country. There is a harmless illusion in some quarters that men who fight fires in thirty-three-story buildings are the only ones that represent the fire service of America. This should be handled mercilessly, for seven-tenths of the fire service of this country are volunteer, constituting the bulk, the business, the life and the energy of the State association membership. Paid and volunteer must be one in organisation.” Chief Hale would have all the different associations federated and send delegates to the annual convention, as should, also, the fire departments of cities and towns, and individual firemen if thev feel so disposed. “In this way, the National Federation will achieve a representation of the service in all the States. The American Federation. like those of the old world, should "build itself up in technology from within and not wait for the whip of the underwriter to develop efficiency m the service.” It should “educate and equip" its members, “provide the drills by counsel and study, and even demand and secure the passage of salutary laws.” The organisation should cause the circulation of fire literature, for (says the author of the paper), “there is a shameful lack of patronage to our tire journals. They would constitute a most valuable aid to this critically needed work of unionising our associations into a national body. They are already the only means of revealing the existence of even neighboring associations to firemen. The National Legislature could then be reached, while now none of the associations would feel authorised to send a lobbyist or even memorialise Congress. The Federation would, in turn, have the combined knowledge of treating fire problems afforded by the experience of different States. The fire federation finis rests with different associations, and, if it fails, the entire service of the United States should immediately cease to complain, for there is no remedy for evil, except in following the spirit of the age and this is an age of organisations and unions, and I am fully prepared to sav without fear of contradiction, that the [members of the] fire service do not need or deserve sympathy as long as they are indifferent to the indicated need of federating as other unions do.” The paper concludes with an earnest appeal to all in that service to join the organisation and for as many as possible to be present at the next convention, which is to be held in Chicago on September 28, 29, 30 and October 1. The above aims of the association will form one of the chief subjects discussed. Another will be to arrange for the acceptance of the offer of the managers of the Louisiana State Purchase exposition to hold a firemen's congress at St. Louis next year. Secretary Gillen, 175 Monroe street, Chicago, will give all information as to the forthcoming convention. The convention of the association falls in with the celebration of Chicago’s Centennial, which will afford great attractions to the visitors, many of whom will be firemen from every State in the Union. One of the most interesting and at the same time most touching sights will be the parade of the city’s veteran volunteer firemen, who came to the front as firefighters away back as far as 1849 and 1850, of whom there are about 100 left out of 500. They will haul their old hand engine behind them as they did fifty years ago. The contrast between then and now will he an education in itself. The attention of the delegates to the convention will not by any means be devoted to pleasure only. During its sessions interesting papers will be read and important discussions held on subjects pertaining to the fire service, great stress being laid on the divorcement of polities from that service, the merit system, and the benefit or the reverse of the present civil service system, so far as fire departments are concerned. Another subject for discussion will by the propriety of selecting one day in the year as a National Fiermen's Memorial Day, and how it should be observed. It is hoped that many Eastern firemen will be present and help on the good work as proposed by the association, and thus make it a power for good among the firemen of the country. To do so calls for the co-operation of every fireman in the United States.