Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31

L
osity \
They were favorably impressed. The
room was large and airy. free from
smoke and dust and well warmed from
the steam pipes.
About 20 minutes Of 1 Alexander
Powers told the men what he had in
mind. He spoke very simply, like one
who understands. thoroughly the char
acter of his audience, and then intro
duced the Rev. Henry Maxwell of the
First church, his pastor, who had con-
sented to speak few minutes.
Henry Maxwell will never forget the
feelings with which for the first time
he confronted that gri1ny faced audi
ence of workingmen. bike hundreds of
other ministers. he had never spoken to
any gathering except those made up of
people of hisowns class in the sense that
they We're familiar in their dress and
education and habits to him. This was
new world tofhim. and nothing but
his new rule of conduct could have
made possible his message and its effect.
He spoke on the subject Of satisfaction
with life, what caused it. what its real
sources were. He had the great good
sense on this first appearance not to rec
Ognfze the men as class distinct from
himself He dM not use the term
'workingmen" and did not say word
to suggest any difference between their
lives and his own.
The men were pleased. A good many
Of them shook hands with him before
going down to their work, and Henry
Maxwell, telling it all to his wife when
he reached home, said that never in all
his life had he known the delight he
then felt in having handshake from q
man Of physical labor. The day marked
nm important one in his Christian ex-
perience, more important than he knew
1t was the beginning of fellowship be-
tween him and the working world. It
was the first plank laid down to help
bridge the chasm between the church
and labor in Raymond
Alexander Powers went back to his
desk that afternoon much pleased with
his plan and seeing much help in it for
the men. He knew where he could get
come good tables from an abandoned
eating house at one of the stations down
the road, and he saw how the coffee ar
rangement could be made very at
tractive feature. The men had respond
ed even better than he anticipated, and
the whole thing could not help being a
great benefit to them.
He took up the routine of his work
with glow of satisfaction. After oil,
he wanted to do as Jesus would, he said
to himself.
It was nearly 4 o'clock when he
opened one of the company's long envel-
opes which he supposed contained or
ders for the purchasing Of stores He
ran over the first page of typewriter
matter in his usual quick, businesslike
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 mot ad-
dressed to him, but before he knew it
he was in possession Of evidence which
conclusively proved that the company
was engaged in q systematic violation
Of the interstate commerce laws of the
United States. It was as distinct and
unequivocal breaking Of law as if pri-
vate citizen should enter a house and
rob the inmates. The discrimination
shown in rebates was in total contempt
of oil the statutes. Under the laws of
the state it was also q distinct violation
of certain Hoyisions 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 the COM
mission and the law of the state also
He dropped the papers on his desk as
if they were poison, and instantly the
question flashed across his mind, "What
would Jesus DOT" He tried to shut the
question out. He tried to reason with
himself by saying it was none Of his
business. BE had supposed in more OF
less indefinite way, as did nearly all of
the officers Of the company, that this
had been going on right along in nearly
al oho AoSAuo' A4o WdS uOL III b pObltlOu,
owing to his place in the shops, to prove
anything direct. and he had regarded it
all as matter which did not concern
him at all. The papers now before him
revealed the entire affair They had
through some carelessness in the address
come into his hands. What business Of
his was it3 If he saw man entering
his neighbor's house to steal, would it
not be his duty to inform the officers Of
the lawt Was railroad company such
a different thing?' Was 1t under diff
ferent rule of conduct, so that it could
rob the public and defy law and be I'M
disturbed because it was such great
organization? What would Jesus do2
Then there Yves his family. OF course
If he took any steps to inform the COM
mission it 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 a witness, it would drag
him into courts, his motives would be
misunderstood, and the whole thing
would end in his disgrace and the loss
of his position. Surely, it was none Of
his business. He could easily get the
papers back to the freight department