The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-22
Scores the SpOtter.


atmosphere Of Wichita. 1t does not ef-
feet those who reside here alone. but
I its potency extends 10 the men and wo-
men who stop a few hours between
trains
This is strongly indicated by the
book written by Charley Carrot, for
merly conductor on the St. Louis and
I San Francisco railroad between this
| city and Springfield, Mo. He was on
THAT run for fourteen years and at the
time Of his retirement he had deter
mined Ito write book about the life and
experience Of a conductor. And write
it he did. The book is put up for a
seller. 1t is hound in an intense shade
of green and has for its title Knocking
| Down"
This title is a SANDER on Carrot him
self, but it serves to catch the eyes Of
a man looking over a book stall. Mr..
CARROT did not knock DOWN"
Here is a passage from Mr.. CARROTS
work:
After many years toiling at the
| brake, in the swFtch-yards and on
freight trains. promotion comes at
last Think of the dangerous career
leading from the break-wheel to pas
senger conductor. One must have
nerve, staying qualities and courage,
and be educated by long years Of ex-
| perience. One must be educated by
tolls and dangers before the position of
passenger conductor is given him.
| Then does 1t pay TO lead such life,
/ freighted as III is with so many dan
| gers and hlardshfps, most of the time de-
! prived of the comforts of home even If
/ they are fortunate enough to pull
/ through? Does il pay? Ninety cases
in a hundred, mo- II is a mistaken idea
| people have of conductors getting rich
/ If any become rich ii IS through some
| speculation There is not one in hun
/ dred but what will be dead broke in less
than year after losing his job. II is
the general opinion of the public that
the life of a passenger conductor is
Strewn with roses, with no thorns in
| terSeoring his way. But the public are
| mistaken. "All is not gold that gilt
! terr>S'' Con his cap) He has less free
dom than any official or workman on
the road. He is subject to the whines
Of all classes of humanity; he must have
a smile and a gentle word for everyone
he meets, no matter how repulsive in
nature or in looks. The passenger con-
ductor must walk the chalk line uner-
riEgly. A mistake on his part, no mat
suspicion of dishonesty is brought
against the conductor and he is unable
TO prove his innocence, he is discharged;
and yet he may be innocent of the crime,
and he is compelled to go in search Of
other employment. Branded as he is,
a thief. with what spirit can he ask
for work? His last employer regarded
him as a thief. He can give no excuse
for being discharged. 1t was only
suspicion the officials had of his being
dishonest, but they did not tell him
why he was discharged, and to obtain a
place under such circumstances is al
most an impossibility. If he refers to
the officials of the company by whom
he was last employed it will avail him
nothing. He, after having spent the
best part of his life on the road. is then
unfit for anything else. His training
has been entirely on the road and 20 be
turned out after the prime of life 10 earn
a living in some other business is about
the same as being turned out 10 srarve.
There are just as honest men handling
the ticket-punch as there are in any
other line Of business and there is no
reason why he should not be given the
same opportunity. The spOtter is on
the train; he is put there by thee fficials
10 watch the conductor. If he finds the
conductor efficient and honest and re-
ports to that effect the company VIII do
away with the spoilers services, for a
time at least, as il would be a useless
expense TO keep him on when there was
no leakage OF funds. This the spOtTer
knows. Then IN order 10 hold his Job.
he sends in many false reports against
the conductors, reporting cash fares
collected, when in fact there was none
collected. 'uhereby leading the officials
to hall
honest and will bear watching SO the
spotter holds his job by making false
reports and the odium resting on con-
ductorS will never be removed 50 long
as iuheS potter can retain his job by
making false reports. SO you see the
conductor Is kept in suspense by the
spoilers and Suspicious officials. a
SpOuter's report against conductor is
always taken as being true unless the |
conductor can prove il to be false The !
superintendent viii give the conductor
the benefit Of the doubt in a few cases.
but If he Is reported frequently. as is /
SURE to be the case as long as the spot /
ter is holding his job down by lying. and /
the superintendent becoming tired Of il, (
discharges the conductor. although he 4
may be innocent, but has no way Of 4
proving the report L. be false The new 1
conductor taking the old ones place 4
does not remedy the matter any because 4
uhe spoilers interest Is 10 Seud damag- /
ing reports in against him. too. Then /
II would be economy TO do away with /
the sneaking. unprincipled, unreliable I
spocter. Take him of the train where I
his presence is an insult to the patrons 1
OF the road as We'll as degrading % the /
conductor and the service. Il is well I
known that the spotter. owing to his l
depravity and the Self-intereSt involved,
VIII not make and send IN fair. unpre-
JUDGED report II the conductors doings
Pay the conductor Tea soma bic wages
put on respectable man as AUDITOR 20 /
check the conductor occasionally. same
as they do the agents, and the .conduc-
tors VII be found doing what Is right
Or course there Is TOW and then a bad I
man in all Professions. and this PRO
fession Is not an exception. but the con
ducrors Will stand the test and rank
high among the honest men T. given
a fair deal. The same as ar allowed n !
Other branches OF business Deal v--h
the conductors fairly and taeir dignity
vii De raised They VII b more
courteous and render better service al |
around and they would appreciate The
freedom and relief from TIE o6ium |
which they have never had tce plea
sure ~ eNperlencin before.
Spoilers are mostly brought up and
bred in the slums and Nth q me back
alley where i = dangerous Tor q o.
-eRt man % 80 foo-- This sueak--h.-t
1end IN human form. Is pgt on The Con-
lucto-s track. runs HIN 10wn. brands
llm as a thief and destroys his good
ZANE and prospects Ger fasu1e good.
I'nes potte-S rides OF ne trains and
\ the coaches among respectable pas
'engers. ocrsn occupying he sane seat