Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-27
ILL WlND HAS BLOWN GOOD
Seaboard's President Urges Public
Confidence in Railroads.
HE ENCOURAGES EMP,
Chances for Advancement Greater
Than Ever-Counsels Better IN
Outstanding Of Conditions.

remembers that not many years ago he
was messenger boy in. the old St.
Louis Terminal station, is firm in his
conviction that the year 1910 will be
the greatest year industrially the coun-
! try has ever known.
| Mr. Garrett knows. too. that America
is the land Of opportunity and that the
| TRANSPORTATION interests of this land are
anxious to reward industry. honesty
and willingness on the part Of young
men to render faithful service. He
| knows this, because he started at the
bottom himself. and he understands
what qualities in him were recognized
and elevated him to the executive head
of vast system Of railways.
| This successful climber believes that
| the country is safe A little financial
scare may come. followed by wavering
| confidence. but that the reimbursement
Of the countrys business conditions 10
inevitable Mr.. Garrett is certain. He even
| believes that the i'll wind has blown the
| country good and that wholesome
conservatism will be evolved from tho
financial turmoil from which the tenn
porary suffering has been felt.
Mr.. Garrett was in the Offices Of the
| Seaboard Air Line in Portsmouth. Va.
Immediately upon his return from the
| Louisville freight rate conference. He
knew what he wanted to say and said
| 1T without urging. His convictions
were matured and his sincerity was
| appealing.
More Chances Than Ever.
Undoubtedly there are more chances
| now than ever before" said Mr. Gar
| rett, for young men to reach high
| priced positions in the railway world.
Such positions are held open day after
day. because the railway executives
cannot find enough dependable men to
fill them. There are more presidents,
vice presidents. general managers, gen.
eral superintendent needed than ever
before in the railway service, and with
the increasing business which the
country is bound to enjoy by 1910 this
state of affairs will become even more
| apparent
THE lack of supervision is the greatest
criticism which may be lodged against
the railways of the country today.
'If the officers In charge of the great
transportation interests find certain men
In the service who demonstrate their fit
ness for advancement and by their daily
work show their desire for advancement
promotion Is bound to follow.
Il believe that there is a basic sense of
fairness in the people of this country.
They do not intend to be unfair to the
railroad which serves them.> They are
sometimes misguided as the railway man.
dEeF SOH1ctlIloS Is unreasonable, Out l
cannot be persuaded that the people as
whole countenance corporate oppression.
better understanding Of each others
interests will place the people and the
railroads in a closer relationship.
For my part, and speaking as an indi-
vidual. should prefer. If were a passen-
ger on a railway train, to pay 3 or 31z
cents mile to ride knowing the road l
was on was well signaled. safely ballast
ed and double-tracked than to pay cents
q mile and ha ioctod n the ha ride IF
cheaply op rated system.
Il would rather pay fair freight rate.
If / were shipper and knew that my
goods would be received and delivered
the movement and be told that cars were
short and that l would have to take my
chances on getting them. Is that an un-
reasonable view Of the transportation Sit
uation?
1910 the Greatest Year.
Mark my word. 1910 will be the great
est year in the industrial and commercial
life Of the country. The remainder of this
year will show improvement in the con-
ditions, next year will see business grow
in volume and 1910 will open the eyes of
the world. This is bound to come. Con-
fidence viii have been restored. the money
which is now being boarded through
general distrust of what the morrow may
bring, will be poured into investing chan
nels and we shall see growth in business
which will satisfy the fairest hopes
You ask me if labor would not gain
by closer cooperation with capital in
stead of listening to the vaporings Of dem
aYogues. This Is a question / never dis
cuss. l have my own views and they may
or may not be sound. / believe in the
individual and in his possibilities for adj
vancement without the aid of organiza-
ton, but l do not say that organization
Is not good for labor
There are splendid fellows In labor or
CARNATIONS and there are splendid fellows
outside them. just as there are good peo-
pie IN the church l belong to and good
people who belong to no church. When
am sick want doctor. but another man
may want a Christian Scientist, and 1
grant him the right to his choice. The
laboring man may seek his advancement
through the organization. and whether or
not I agree with him as to method,
grant him the right to his choice
BY successive stages Mr.. Garrett has
worked his way from messenger to his
present high rank among the transporta-
ton heads of the country. He says that
he Is southern born and cherishes the
memory Of his Mississippi home. but that
he is not southerner. but an American.
Neither the north nor the south. the east
nor the west has monopoly on the
wealth. the brains. the manhood or the
faults of the country. concluded Mr.. Gar
rett.