The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-26
The Rell-Punch in Politics.

The introduction upon our street rail.
roads Of the little musical instrument
known as the bell-punch, as will perhaps
be remembered, was commented upon in
the most unfriendly manner by the driver,
denounced with great heartiness by the
conductor, and viewed with scorn and in
dignation by the starter. A simple
little instrument it is; it adorns the neck
Of the wearer; it shines with constant use
it tinkles and it tells tales. The railroad
companies, up to the time of the introduc-
ton of this pleasing little contrivance, had
been served by the ablest and purest and
most high-minded conductors and drivers
that ever knocked down a fare themselves
or looked calmly on while somebody else
Knocked down passenger. Having gain
cd their positions, as many of our leading
statesmen do, by political influence, they
had, like the leading statesmen, entire
confidence in their own integrity. They
felt that they were above suspicion, and
that the companies were extremely for
tunate in obtaining their services at any
price. The introduction of the bell punch
they felt to be reflection upon them, and
they resented it. Many of them left the
service Of the companies after the bell
punches had been in operation few
weeks, because, as they said, they could
not, without a sacrifice of self-respect, re.
main longer in the service OF men who had
so little confidence in their honesty as tC
compel them to wear a detective around
their necks. The amount of indignation
which these gentlemen expended on the
bell.punch was quite extensive, and it,
equality of highest possible tone, though
we do not remember that any of then
claim to be God fearing men" or made
any appeals to the Christian Public.
1t is fact worthy of remark, however
that the railroads found perceptible in
crease in their revenues after the intro
duction of the punch. and we presume
those soulless corporations found compen
sation in this circumstance for the loss o
the able and accomplished conductors VIII
retired. Which only shows by what sordi,
considerations are governed.
The introduction into politics of tn
system of investigations, accompanied b
the practice of free criticism by the indC
pendent-or to use the happier phrase c
the presidents organ, the detective
press, seems to have had kind of bell
punch effect upon large number of GU
ablest and purest government conductor
and drivers. The first introduction of tn
bell-punch in politics on an extensiv
scale was in the winter OF 1929
when series of INVESTIGATION
were set on foot which had tn
usual effect: the discharge from the pub
lie service of large number Of statesmen
who said as they stepped down like a cor
ductor from the rear platform: If thi
is the way pubic servants are treated,
wash my hands of all official trusts. an
retire to private life." That was an i'm
pressive spectacle when so many of ther
stepped down and out on the 4th of Marc
1873 protesting as they went that tn
introduction of the bell punch was demon
allzlng to the public service and destruC
tive OF the selt-respet and sense of maj
hood of all great and good men. Such
hegira of our purest and best was veryIdi:
couraging to the lover of free institutions
1t seemed very doubtful if we should eve
be able to fill their places. But pervers
and stubborn public sentiment, which
must be confessed was based upon tn
low, mercenary consideration of savin
money to the government, persisted in re
tanning the bell-punch, and the inyestigs
tons went on. Notwithstanding the protest
oil certain newspapers which were at tn
trouble OF demonstrating daily that tn
Uell puuCu was uTlNlDS out some or tn
most talented conductors and running til
business of the line. And what is quee
about it is. that although it has driven OF
so many of our purest and best from til
service of the government the people ar
rather pleased with its operation.
ltwas discovered some months ago thu
some OF the street car conductors ha
found out wav to beat the bell-punch
by having a punch of their own whic
made all the noise and seemed to do a
the work of those furnished by the comp;
mp. This was ingenious But corporation
have no appreciation of ingenuity, A
soon as they found out what was going Q
they discharged the men who had the ex
ira punches. 1t is remarkable coinc
dence that the same thing precisely hal
pened in the experience ofthe governmer
when the bellpunch was introduced i
politics. Some conductors appointed the
own investigating committees and superiu
tended their inquiries is, introduce
little bell-punch Of their own whic
made just as much noise and seemed q