The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-10

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load to lose ten thousand dollar worth of
time over a dispute about hundred
cents
Perhaps Blades saw the absurdity of
his position, but be that as it may, he
dropped into the nearest seat, drew his
slouch hat over his frowning brow and
said no more The conductor, as soon as
he received the money, jerked the rope
twice, the engine gave two answering
whistles, and the train sped on to its des-
tination
When Jim Blades left the terminus, he
did not go to his place of business, but be-
took himself instead to the general offices
of the Lackdale and New York Railroad
Company, and went in upon the general
passenger agent. Now, a general passen
ger agent is a suave and diplomatic indi-
vidual. He meets the newspaper men
and gives them interesting items about his
road, and it is his duty to persuade the
public that his particular line is the best
equipped, fastest and most comfortable in
the world. He gets out attractive pamph-
lets with maps showing that his road goes
in direct bee-line from important point
to important point; whereas in reality it
may wander all over the land and he will
give you as many of these pamphlets as
you want for nothing. Your case must
be bad, indeed, if the G. 2. 4. will not
speak to you soothingly about it, and
promise all sorts of amendments.
~ have been grossly insulted on your
road this morning." began Blades, ''by a
conductor named McKim.''
II am very sorry indeed to hear it, y
replied the passenger agent mildly.
care you? Well, you can express
your sorrow by bouncing this conductor.
''What did he do?
"Do? What didn't he do? | left
my communication ticket at home this
morning. He demanded full fare, which
| refused, telling him he might punch two
holes in my ticket tomorrow-quite the
usual thing; I've seen it done a dozen
times-but he wouldn't have that, and
actually laid hands on me. Came within
an ace Of throwing me off the train"
ooh. well, we Il return the dollar, and
III apologize on behalf of the company.
How will that suit you, Mr.. Blades p
''It won suit me at all. | don't care
hang about the dollar, and apologies are
cheap. | want the man fired
Rather rough on McKim, you know.
He was merely following Instructions
Whatever blame there is rests with the
company that issued the rules. You
know enough about railroading, Mr.
Blades, to be aware that servant who
obeys orders is not censurable. ~
Regulations - rules - orders Look
here, I've had enough Of that kind of
talk. Say, are you going to discharge
that man Or are you not 2
''I really don see how I can
'Don't you? Where's the Presi-
dent %
Front room-end of the passage. [
regret very much that
But Blades was gone, and had banged
the door after him.
The president of even minor railway
is a great man. He is usually under the
impression that he runs the universe, al
though it may be only single track line
that he operates. Therefore you must
approach him with certain amount Of
Difference if you expect to carry your point
with him. If you brush aside the under
ling who offers to take in your card, and
if you stride into the presidents room
with a slouch hat on the back of your
head, and more especially if you advance
angrily to his great desk and pound your
fist on it, laundering forth orders, why,
the man will come to the conclusion that
you think you run the universe, whereas
he knows that he is doing it; hence there
will be trouble, and you will be shown to
the door, The president of a railway does
not need to be polite, except to his equals,
and he knows he hasn't any. The pas
senger agent is paid to attend to that de-
partment.
The interview between Jim and the
president was brief, abrupt and conclu-
sive. The former went direct to the office
of his chief broker. He was now so an
cry that all appearance of anger had de-
parted from him, and his broker thought
him as calm as he usually was.
"Mr. Thurluw,' said the speculator,
~ want you to buy for me the Lackdale
and New York Railroad.
ssAll the stock, sir?'' asked the broker.
II merely want a working majority. [
intend to reorganize the staff from presi-
dent to conductors, so get me enough stock
to give me legal control. 1t stands at l3BB,
[ think. "
at has gone down point since yester
days quotations. You want this done
quietly, of course
"Quietly, until you have got all the
stock you want; after that | don't care
who knows | own the road. In fact, as
soon as | possess it, you may as well give
the deal away to the papers, but be sure
you have your quantity first.
Before the close of week Jim Blades
was practically master of the i. & n. Y.
r. r. The buying Of such block OF
stock in such short time raised the price
until it reached 173 The next morning
the papers had various items about the
matter, and from these items the following
is reprinted, as giving the gist of the In
telligence
The majority of the stock of the L. & N. Y.
r. R. has been acquired by Mr.. James Blades.
I The purchase was carried through so quietly
and expeditiously that the rise was compare
lively small, as will be seen by consulting our
financial column. A reporter saw Mr.. Blades
Yesterday afternoon, but that gentleman de-
cclined to be interviewed on the matter. His
brokers, Messrs Thurlow Il Sneed, were
scarcely less reicent, but they admitted that
the road had been bought by Mr.. Blades.
| Those who know say that the Plainville ex.
tension will now be carried forward, and will
give the road the connections it has long
needed. A complete reorganization of the
staff will be one of the first results of the new
ownership.
The effects of these announcements were