The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-02

have Railroads are largely the crea-
lures of the state. The law says what
1t may or may not do 1t says also that
1t may do anything that is essential to
the operation of its own business. It
may dig for oil. bore for water, build
engines. I maintain that the repair OF
a man is just as important as the re-
pair of machine. Therefore the en-
couragement of what benefits the man
is IN the interest of the railroad and
legitimate part of its activity. The
greatest merger of today, is the merger
of the interests Of the railroad official
and the railroad employe- Wherever
money is money is to be paid. The high
officials quarrel with the directors, the
lower officials quarrel with the higher
officials, and the lower officials quarrel
with the walking delegate. 1 presume
the real trouble comes when the walk
ing delegate quarrels with his cook
Time viii come when the railroad OF
fetal has reached a perfect understand
ing with the man on the rail When
that comes the railroad man will be
surrounded with all the requisites OF
comforta BILE and better living while the
railroads will be receiving better re-
turns for their money than ever be-
fore.
GEORGE w. STEVENS.
I'VE have been fortunate in securing
the attendance Of a man who has done
much for the railroad Y. NJ c. A. in
the east" said Colonel NcCook, in in
PRODUCING President G. W. Stevens, of
the Chesapeake & Ohio railway. Mr.
Stevens IS now on his way to the Pa
cific coast and upon the invitation OF
Colonel McCOok stopped in Topeka to
be present at the gathering when Presi-
dent Roosevelt addressed the confer
ence- Mr. Stevens came unprepared, not
knowing that he would be called upon.
He, however, is a ready speaker and
gave an interesting account of the asso-
citation work with which he has been
remarks briefly. and made way for
General Manager H. U. Nudge of the
Santa Fe.
GENERAL MANAGER NUDGE.
Mr.. Nudge said: 4 am pleased to
have an opportunity to extend a greet
ing to the delegates and visitors within
our city You have gathered here from
ali parts of the c0untry-from many
parts Of the world You have not gath
cred ike the wise men in a desert spOc
to watch the rising of the star in the
east, but upon the most fertile place on
the green footstool to witness the ascent
OF the star of this great work 1 thank
YOU
After a song or two Colonel McCook
announced the next speaker. BY this
time it was approaching the hour at
which the arrival of the president was
expected. The eyes of the audience
wandered involuntarily to the door from
time to time and each time it was open
ed to admit or let out a messenger ex-
pectancy was rampant With a wider
acquaintance with the two hundred
Kansas men who sat on the platform
with him and more time for it Colonel
McCoOk could have easily arranged an
all night programme of enduring ex-
cellence, but to work up entertainment
taking. Congressman Charles Curtis
and Mr. Calderhead were the first at
hand. He called first upon Mr.. Curtis.
He responded:
CONGRESSMEN CURTIS AND CAL
DERHEAD.
IT assure you that I am proud that as
citizens of Topeka we have given to you
delegates the opportunity of hearing
that great friend of the American la
boring man, Theodore Roosevelt. Theo-
dore Roosevelt has always been identi-
fled as the friend of the working people
and in their behalf he has done much.
When his term of office ends the labor
ing men will return him to the office for
which he has proved himself SO amply
qualified We welcome you to our city
and hope that you have found your stay
thus far pleasant and that you will find
the remainder of it equally enjoyab BILE.
Topeka will consider herself fortunate
if she can claim you at another time as
her visitors"
Congressman W A Calderhead said:
Il have not been enough with you as
railroad Inen or as members of the Y.
M. C. A. to make an address before you
or to say anything to you that you will
long rem e1lDeI- BQI II mas occurred 10
me when my friend Congressman Curtis
said that President Roosevelt was the
friend of the laboring man, that he was
also the friend of character. The Y NJ
c. A. is also a friend of character. It Is
this which the president so constantly
recommends and which the association
seeks to build W. In the immense field
which this association has now occupied
it IS quietly doing its work of building
up the citizenship of the communities
in which it Cperates. On this citizen
ship depends the life of the nation and
On the character Of the men for whom
you are preparing the way depend the