The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-12-29

precepts of the golden rule; so that to-
day intelligent capital and intelligent
| labor, each recognizing it's dependence
on the other are moving hand in hand
In every grand achievement OF our
| time. Nor can such 81 union be easily
broken. 1t has recently been attempt
ed with signal failure. For several
months last passed the air has been
filled with the noisy defamation of
rowing demagogues endeavorlng to
promote their political ends by array
ing the workman against his employer
attacking all styles of organized capt.
tai employing labor, and especially ac-
tive in fomenting discord and discon-
tent among railroad employees. Yet
how grandly the Intelligence and pa
triotism of the workingmen of America
responded to these base and coWardly
appeals. They gave little hint of their
intentions during the campaign, but
when the hour for action came they
took the old flag in their strong arms
and planted it securely on the granite
of national honor and national pros
perity 1t is corporate acts like this
you celebrate tonight that stamp into
utter oblivion all this miserable talk of
the demagogue about corporate tyran-
ny and oppression.
THE New York New Haven and
Hartford Railroad company as at pres
ent organized employs a very large
number of men. Its organization re-
sembles, in many respects, that of an
army. The paymaster informs me that
upon our pay rolls at the present time
there are upwards of twenty-five
thousand men, over eight thousand of
whom reside in Connecticut. They are
divided into four divisions, located re-
spectively in New York, Connecticut,
Rhode Island and Massachusetts,. Then
you have your commander in chief
and no Drawer or truer leader ever led
more loyal and devoted followers.
Then there are the beads of divisions
and officers. of various grades and
finally splendid body of active SOL
diers upon whose faithful service the
corporation principally depends. Such
a service necessarily involves almost
military discipline. Precious lives and
property are in your keeping. The
sleepless vigilance of the engineer is
unavailing if the signals are not prop
erly set or the switchman has neglected
his duty. Every department, there
fore, requires the highest types of man.
ly character, intelligence, courage, tenn
perance, integrity, answering obedi-
ence to orders, unyedling fidelity. 10y
atty to duty is the watchword of the
camp.
This institution you open tonight
is designed to cultivate and stimulate
every one of these essential requisites
of the ideal railroad man.
mo one can measure in words the
good influences that will flow from this
association, if it is broadly and liber-
ally managed. Let evesy man con-
nected with our compan. be made to
understand that he will nd a warm
welcome here without regard to his re-
lfgion or his race. This association
ought to be regarded as a kind of rail-
road club, where any man fit to be
employed by the company is qualified
for membership. ! would especially
urge upon the younger men connected
with our company the duty of avail
ing themselves of the privileges of this
organization. ..
Remember that the corporation lives
while its servants are continually fall
ing by the wayside. and soon all the
positions occupied by your seniors must
be filled by others. There is no limit to
the possibilities presented to the young
men of to-day in every walk of life.
Improve faithfully every opportunity
to fit yourselves for these responsible
places. They do not come ordinarily
by accident or chance You must be
fitted and prepared for them and no.
where will you find better school than
the associations and advantages this
club will afford.
TN closing, let me express my very
best wishes for the success of this VEN
ture and the earnest hope that it may
be the means of bringing into closer
sympathy and friendship all our a.
low employees. and that the thousa1 d
good influences that will surround ts,s
place may produce the most perfect
organization of intelligent moral and
manly railroad men to be found in the
country"
The reception committee consisted of
the following gentlemen: Fl. E, Nettle-
ton, chairman, F. B. Berthe, E. O.
Brown, George w. Beach, r. G. Curtis
c. M. Conklin. F. c.. Coley c. S. David
son, w. H Elliot, J. P. Hopson, w. B.
Huntington, Frank Hermance, G. w
Little, G.. A. Morton, George McKen-
kendrick, A. Mackrille, r. NJ Prentice
j. N. States, e. e. Pratt, Riley Phil
lips, F. B. Smith, F. H. Soule, H. w
Snow, N. E. Smith, w. A. Waterbury
E. Van Benschoten, ]. p. Young.
The members of the opening commit
tee We're: Jno. Mackrille W. P. APP
pleyard, j. g. Parker p. e. Bowman
George l.. Conner.