The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-20

preceding year. showing in this way an average number of more than eight journeys a year for each of the eighty millions of inhabitants of this country Each one of these six hundred and ninety-five million passengers, as liv- ing human being, must be considered Individually, and so each must repre- sent some part of work of the passen- ger and ticket man.
 The classification of the passenger traffic Is manifestly immeasurably su- perior to the highest class of freight traffic So the obligations and respon- abilities of the passenger man are most delicate and difficult. 'In the matter of expense, of which we sometimes hear. I want right now to lift my voice in behalf of the down trodden and oppressed freight man. for I understand he feels obliged by the nature of his trafflc. the demands of the shippers of competition, of market, and of line to provide more expensive ser vice in the way of costly equipment and fast schedules for his highest class or special trafflc than for the lowest class. So I am told the expense of the former about consumes all the revenue 1t yields; and of the latter that the revenue itself Is so thin 1t can hardly be discovered by the most astute audi tor. Far be it from me, however, to charge our freight brother with being of the purely ornamental and decora- tive department. I know he Is doing the best he can: besides he would not look well in such department. He says these expenses are essential. Why. bless your soul, we know thati The passenger man has known for fifty years all about these conditions. But they cost money.
 If ten talents have been entrusted to the passenger man. let him account for that much. If five talents to the freight man, let him account for that. If only one talent to each. let neither return that wrapped in a napkin un- employed. Let the results of each di- rect, and collateral be considered in their entirety.
 And yet, we know the passenger traffic of this continent is still in com parative infancy and that further de- velopments and greater opportunities are more and more to be the heritage of the passenger men. We should, therefore. bear In mind that the way to win the higher places, Is to fill each day with worth and merit In the lower places.
 If, in the years to come, 1t shall be decreed that this entire North Ameri- can continent Is to be united into one great State, so that the Dominion of Canada, and the Republic of Mexico, 1 and our own United States shall then all three be under one flag, may we not hope that this American Associa- | tion of General Passenger and Ticket | Agents shall have no small part in sS great a consummation, and that out of our present brotherhood, larger and even more glorious results shall Issue. |
 T am sure that the men in no other | department of railroad service are as fortunate as we fin our personal rela- tions and associations. We are as one | brotherhood, united and devoted. No | other profession or avocation, as far | as 1 know, has such an Association as | ours, and none other has such material | from which to make such an Associa- tion
 This apparent apotheosis of the pas senger man is not offered as an empty | compliment. as I would not impugn !! your intelligence by such an attempt. | but the story Is told In all sincerity, | and given as a note of encouragement | for every passenger man to press for | ward not in a spirit of boasting, nor | of controversy, but simply in a spirit l of commendab1e emulation.
 My friends I thank you for thus | according to me the honor of speaking | In this plain eNpositlOH lHc pdbseu- ger man and his work, which synony- | mousIy IS in appreciation. That I have | done this but feebly and inadequtaely | am quite well aware, but that Fl have done so devotedly, I am equally l well persuaded.
 And yet after all. we know. in all | humility, that the passenger man is | not a perfect man. Alas, perhaps. no more so than his critics. But the pas senRer man, while believing in himself, believes first and firmly in the Fath- erhood of God. and next in the brother hood of man.
 Cicero says:
 They seem to take away the sun | from the world who withdraw friend ship from life; for we have received | nothing better from the Immortal Gods | nothing more delightful
 Let us be worthy of our work and our Association. Ultimate achievement 1 ayYalfs only those who faithfully and | 4 khtly endeayor