Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14


is being defied
"The entire result of this evasion Of
responsibility on the part of those who
are responsible is demoralizing TO every
young man connected with the road
The editor of The News recalls the
statement made by n prominent rail
road official in this city little while
ago that nearly cvory clerk in certain
department of the road who understood
how large sums of money were made by
shrewd violations of the interstate com
mcrce law was ready to admire the
shrewdness with which it was done and
declared that they would all do the
same thing if they were high enough in
railroad circles to attempt it. This was
actually said in one Of the general Of
fees Of great western railroad to the
author knowledge.
at is not necessary to say that such
a condition of business is destructive
to all the noblcr and higher standards
Of conduct, and no Young man can live
in such an atmosphere Of unpublished
dishonesty and lawlessncss without
wrecking his character
"In our Judgment Mr.. Powers did
the only thing that n Christian man
can do He has rendered brave and use
full service TO the state and the general
public. 1t is not always an easy matter
to determine the relations that exist be
tween the individual citizen and his
fixed duty to the public. In this case
there is no doubt in orr mind that the
step which Mr.. Powers has taken COM
mends itself to every man who believes
in law and its enforcement. There are
times when the individual must act for
the people ir ways that will mean sac
rifice and loss to him Of the gravest
character. Mr. Powers will be misun-
derstood and misrepresented, but there
il no question that his course will be
approved by every citizen who wishes
to see the greatest corporations as well
as the weakest individual subject to the
came law, Mr. Powers has done all that
n loyal patriotic citizen could do. 1t
now remains for the commission to act
up0l his evidence. which. we under
stand, is overwhelming proof of the
lawlessness of the L. and T. Let the
law be enforced. no matter who the
persons nay be who have been guilty"
Henry Maxwell finished reading and
dropp.1: the paper
Il must go and see Powers This is
the resrls of his promise.
He rose, and as he was going out his
wife said:
"Do you think, Henry, that Jesus
woslG have done that
Hetsiy Maxwell paused a moment
Then he answered slowly:
"Y es; l think he would At any rate,
Powers has decided so, and each one oe
us who made the promise understands
that ho is not deciding Jesus conduct
for any one else only for himself. "
"How about his family? How will
Mrs. Powers and Celia be likely to take
itY'
Very hard, have no doubt That
will be Powers cross in this matter
They will not understand his motive"
Henry Maxwell went out and walked
over to the next block. where the su-
perintendent lived. To his relief, Pow
ers himself came so the door.
The two men shook hands silently
They instantly understood each other
without words. There had never been
such bond Of union between the min
lister and his parishioner
"What are you going to do?" Henry
Maxwell asked after they had talked
over the facts in the case and considered
them well
You mean another position2 l have
no plans yet. l can go back to my old
work as telegraph operator. Ny fam
lily will not suffer except in social
way"
Alexander Powers spoke calmly, if
sadly. Henry Maxwell did not need to
ask him how his wife and daughter
felt He knew well enough that the su-
pcrintendent had suffered deepest at
that point
There is one matter l wish you
would see TO- said Powers after
awhile, land that is the work begun at
the shops. SO far as | know, the COM
pany will not object to that going right
on. 1t is one Of the contradictions of
the railroad world that the " NJ. G. A.
ind other Christian influences are en-
couraged by the roads, while all the
time the most un-Christian and lawless
acts are being committed in the official
management Of the roads themselves
Of course it is understood that it pays
l railroad to have in its employ men
who are temperate and honest and
Christian So have no doubt the mas
Ter mechanic will have the same cour-
tesy extended to him that ] had III the
matter of the room and its uses. But
what | want you to do, Mr.. Maxwell,
Is to see that my plan is carried out
VIII you? You understand what the
idea was in general You made a very
favorable impression on the men. Go
down there as often as You can. Get
Milton Wright interested to provide
something for the furnishing and ex-
pense Of the coffee plant and reading
tables. VIII you do it,
eyes, replied Henry Maxwell He
staid little longer Before he went
away he and the superintendent had n
prayer together, and they parted with
that silent hand grasp that seemed to
them like new token Of their Chris
tian discipleship and fellowship.
The pastor Of the First church went
home stirred deeply by the events Of
the week. Gradually the truth was
growing upon him that the pledge to
do