Prenter Out

After a seven-week convention at Cleveland, which cost more than $1,000,000 in expenses, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers last week voted to eliminate the office of "president" in their organization. Thereby they graciously threw President William B. Prenter out of the office he had held since Warren Sanford Stone's death on June 12, 1925. The Brotherhood was displeased with Mr. Prenter because during his incumbency the investments made by their banks and other financial agencies had depreciated in value by several millions of dollars. Their Florida boom town, Venice, had cost them too dearly. As "punishment" Mr. Prenter may hold no Brotherhood office for three years.

The office of president abolished, the leadership of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers reverted to the office of grand chief engineer.

The newly elected grand chief engineer is Alvanley ("Al") Johnston, 52, Canadian-born, quiet-mannered, efficient. For 32 years he was an engineer on the Great Northern, now carries a free pass on that road as a "Veteran Engineer."