The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-12-10
MR. MELLEN IN PROVIDENCE
SPEAKS AT BANQUET OF CHAM
 BER OF COMMERCE.

Assures Brilliant Gathering That Pee
 sonaiiiy of the consoIldassd Has
 changed-Ashs conndeuee and En-
 oaragement-Eslievs This the Best
 Way to moro Emeient and satis-
 factory Service
 Providence. R l.. Dec. sc. S. Mellen. the new president of the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad, as- sured the members of the Chamber of Commerce. whose guest he was at an elaborate banquet tonight, that the Personality of the men in charge of the road had changed. and that there was no better way for an efficient and satis- factory service than by their confidence and encouragement.
 The banquet which was held in the Trocadero was attended by nearly 400 merchants and business men of Rhode Island. Among the other guests were Governor Lucius F. c. Garvin, Judge LeBaron B. Colt of the United States circuit court. President w. H. P. Faunce of Brown university. Colonel Samuel B. Colt, and the judges of the supreme court.
 MT. Mellen spoke as follows
 Possibly of all the places have been invited to visit and become acquainted with the patrons of our company, none has had an interest equal to Providence. for the reason have been advised this was the storm-center of the system.
 Here was abiding discontent, spirit of complaint; here was the place in consequence, of all others, needing at tention.
 For. if we are to have that measure of success with our property we most ear- nestly desire, we must have in place oe what has been the prevailing opinion here, complete change mo less an one than that which has taken place in the management of this company.
 So in meeting you this evening, am not going to occupy your time excusing any shortcomings of the past, for they have undoubtedly been many.
 am not going to discuss with you ancient history, for that can be produc- tive of littel good, but am going to ask you to join with me in making his- tory from this time on, urging you to remember that a railroad company is, for the time being, only the personality of the men in charge of it's affairs, and when that personality changes, there can be only time lost in complaining of what has been. and only pr. gress can lie in considering and enco raging that which should be-
 Therefore, as I. represent to you the desire of our company for better rela- tionship as the change has commenced with us--am unreasonable in asking that we bury the past, join hands for the future, and work out together the problems of our material welfare. un- derstanding, as you must, that neither can prosper alone, that we are partners in everything md willing partners eafter--working in mutual conf denee and esteem.
 What matters it that cause for griev- ance has existed, may even exist longer, for it takes time to bring about changes.
 It Is the man and not the artificial be- ing called the company that has been at fault, if fault there has been.. The men have gone--let the remembrance of your troubles go with them. Look for ward to what the company can do for you under those who are as yet untried in your service who promise fairly. Don't waste time over what other men should have done for you, who could not see that working together you supp plement each other, while at cross pur- poses you both were trending to your own undoing. Seize the moment that comes to you with proffers of help and lay by the store that shall protect you when served by those less favorabIy dis posed.
 You but handicap me in my efforts for improvement by distrust, doubt and while with little en- couragement now and then, you cam spur to renewed effort and bring the de- sired result nearer accomplishment.
 It should be that our company can do better than any other agency the work necessary to your material prosperity. It will do 1t, if can control it's action, as I hope to, and you can help your- selves to your desires, in the way of ef- ficient and satisfactory service, in no better way than by helping me with your confidence and encouragement.
 It is doubly incumbent upon the man. agement of a railroad having practical ly monopoly, as we have, to serve you faithfully and efficiently.
 You have the right to require much of a company so able to give you what you need. You should not submit to unrea-N sonable exactions, discourteous treat ment, or insufficient and unsatisfactory You are entitled to the best there is, and the company is able and willing to give it.
 You should, however, remember it is not an easy task to control and disci- pline thirty-five thousand employees. The stock of angels has run rather low, and the wages paid are not attracting them to the extent we would like, but with the material available, we are pros posing to do the best we can, and trust to make manifest a constant improve ment.
 Earnestly desiring here the respect and confidence that has been my re- ward in other fields of work, I am hope ful to have at your hands honest, care fully considered criticism, that may help towards the improvement we all so much desire, and assure you that 1t