The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-30
Industry Displayed by Santa Fe
Has Paid Well.
So Says William Allen White in
Speech at "BisOnte" Opening.
J. r. KOONTZ SPEAKS.
He Compliments Hutchinson
Business Men.
Other Items of Interest I'm
Railway Circles.

William Allen White, the editor of
the Emporia Gazette, was the principal
speaker at the Commercial club ban
Quet in Hutchinson last Thursday
night which was given in honor of the
opening of the Bisonte. the new hotel
OF the Harvey system which has been
erected during the past year. Mr..
white in his address paid many trib-
utes TO the Santa Fe and to their pol
lcles- His address in part follows:
1t is great pleasure as we'll as
high privilege to be present at an oc-
cas1on like this. For here commune
" whose thrift, whose industry and
whose integrity are proverbial all over
the west. has met to do honor to
railroad whose enterprise and general
policy OF fair dealing with employees
and customers alike is known all over
the west; and the special object of
this felicitation is the dedication of q
hotel managed by a system that has
made a standard of it's own for gener-
osity and good service all over the
world 1t is said by the Santa Fee Of
hcials that the company feeds its pas
sengers at a loss of twenty-five cents
head at these Harvey eating houses.
And yet the company keeps putting up
new houses and increasing its passen-
ger business and charging its twenty
five cent investment in good will; for
on the whole the company finds that
the investment pays. So this occasion
Is a celebration of the fact that has
become the settled policy of a great.
wise corporation, the fact that good
Will pays, that generosity actually
brings in returns. Therefore this BAN
quet has rather finer significance
than many other festal occasions and
1T should be notable in Kansas history.
For everyone knows that industry
pays. 1t has been amply proved that
irft haS CT tod
that honesty pays. But to prove that
commercial kindness, capitalized in
good will, pays-that is an achieve
ment not often celebrated by banquets
and speech making in this sordid
world. Yet after all it is not strange
when one considers the mater, that
the Santa Fe should draw dividends
on its capitalization of decency. For
more than any other American rail-
road, this great Santa Fe system has
had experience in handling the invest
ment of good will and good fellowship
with patrons and with employees; and
the Santa Fe should have the experts
high return on the investment. For
the Santa Fe has made service pen
sfons to its employees pay. 1t has
made the merit system for promotion
among its employees pay. It has made
double trackage pay. 1t has made the
best train service in America pay. And
for ten years it has made railroading
as a business pay, carrying less side
lines of politics than any other Ameri-
can railroad of its size. Therefore it
IS entirely fitting and proper that bus
mess men in a town like Hutchinson,
that has always made decency pay,
should gather here to congratulate this
railroad on the naturalization of a
common faith witnessed in the dedica-
ton of this hotel-the substance of
things mutually hoped for, the evil
dence of things for long years not
seen"
Mr.. KoontZ Speaks.
]. R. Koontz, general freight agent
of the Santa Fe, attended the banquet
and with Mr.. White shared the honors
of the principal places on the pro-
gram. Mr.. Koontz's remarks were di-
rected towards eulogizing the business
men of Hutchinson for their loyal work
in upbuilding the town. Mr.. Koontz's
address:
1T affords me no little pleasure and
much concern to address this repre-
sentation of Hutchinson's business
men. The pleasure is genuine, for the
reason that very few commercial or
ganizations of this country have done
more to develop a community of thrift
and energy than has this body of men
here gathered tonight.
1T affords me no little concern in
addressing you for the reason that 1
am not a talker; am like the most of
not classify myself as a business man.
but 1 would enjoy and esteem it a
pleasure to be classified as one of you
Hutchinson has done much to make
the Santa Fe and its officials recognize
what she has done. This beautiful ho-
tel and yonder modern freight depot
attest in a small way what the Santa
Fe thinks of Hutchinson. The reve-
nues which the Santa Fe has receive
ed as a result of transporting the com
modities handled by you gentlemen
attest your friendship for the Santa
Fe. Our relationship as whole;
trust, has been entirely satisfactory
At times vexatious adjustments have
been confronted by you, but 1 know
of no set of business men who have
been so patient as yours. In truth
and fact Kansas men know and re-
alize the difficulties under which rail-
roads operate. and throughout all the
small conflicts that have arisen, and
through which we have passed, we
have always, as men, come out as
friends. You have in your midst a
Scared old warrior who has manful-
ly fought as many rate battles and
accomplished as much along his line
of action as any man that can be
found in any town through which the
Santa Fe rails run. yet through 1t all
he has been a clean fighter. and no
business man along the rails of the
respect from railroad men as does that
grand old man, Mr.. ]. S. George In
fact, go where you will, ask honestly
would it not be a difficult task to pick
out a community and find business
men who have made and built I'D in