The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-10-13


opened one of the compapy's long envel-
opes which he supposed contained or
ders for the purchasing of stores. Ee
ran over the first page of typewritten
matter IN his usual quick. busincsslike
manner before he saw that he was read
ing what was not intended for his office.
but for the superintendent of the freight
department..
He turned over page mechanically,
not meaning to read what was not adj
dressed to him, but before he knew it
he was in possession of evidence which
conclusive1y proved that the company
was engaged in systematic violation
of the interstate commerce laws Of tho
United States. 1t was as distinct and
unequivocal breaking of law as if pri-
yate citizen should enter house and
rob the inmates The discrimination
shown in rebates was in total contempt
of all tho statptcs, Under the laws OF
the state it was also distinct violation
of certain provisions recently passed by
the legislature to prevent railroad
trusts There was no question that he
held in his hand evidence sufficient to
convict the company of willful, intelli-
gent violation of the law of tho com
mission and the law o: the state also.
He dropped the papers cn his desk rs
if they were poison, Gnd instantly the
question flashed across his mind, "What
would Jesus dor" He tried to shut the
question out lie tried to reason with
himself by saying it was none OF his
business. He had supposed in moro or
less indefinite way, as did nearly all of
the officers of tEo cQWpany, that this
had been going On right along In nearly
all the roads. He was not in position,
owing to his place in the shops, to prove
anything direct, and he had regarded it
all as u matter which did not concern
him at all The PAPERS now before him
revealed the entire affair. They had
through some carelcssness in the address
come into his hands. What business of
his was IT.? u he say Q man entering
his neighhnr's house - steal, would it
not be his duty TO Inform the officers of
the law? Was railroad company such
a different thing? Was it under q diff
ferent rule Of conduct, so that it could
rob the public and defy law and be I'M
disturbed because it was such a great
organization? What would Jesus do?
y.
If he took any steps to inform the com
mission 1T would mean the loss Of his
position. His wife and daughters had
always enjoyed luxury and good place
in society If he came out against this
lawlessness as witness, it would drag
him into courts. his motives would be
misunderstood and the whole thing
would end in his disgrace and tho loss
of his position, Surely, it was none of
his husiNeSs He could easily get tho
papers back to the freight department
and no one be the wiser. Let the iniouity
go on. Let the law be deiied What was
it to him2 He would work out his plans
for bettering the conditions just about
him. What more could man do in
this railroad business, where there was
SO MUCH going on anyway that made it
impossible to hive by tho Christian
standard? But what would Jesus do it
he knew the facts2 That was the ques.
tion that confronted Alexander Powers
as the day wore into evening.
The lights in the office had been
turned on. The whir OF tho great en-
gine and the crash Of the planer III the
big shop continued until o'clock
Then the whistle blew, tine engines
slowed down. and the men dropped |
their tools and ran for the blockhouse.
Alexander Powers heard the familiar
click. click Of the blocks as the men |
filed pass the window or the blockhouse |
just outside. He said to his clerks:
u I'm not going just yet I have some
thing extra tonight" He waited until |
la heard the last na,, de,oe;t b;s blool>'
The men behind the block case went
out. The engineer and his assistants
had work for half an hour, but they
went out at another door.
~ 7 4'clock that evening any one
VINO had looked into tne superintend.
ent's Office would have seen an unusual
sight He was kneeling down, and his
face was buried in his hands as he
bowed his head upon the papers on his
desk.