Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-05-13

CO. CO want. If the pol
icy were generally carried out it
would do away with about half of the
legislation against railroads" These
statements with others of similar ma
ture were made by Walter L. Ross,
who, having entered the railroad bust
ness % years ago as an office boy, was
elected vice-president of the Chicago
& Alton Clover Leaf system at the age
of ~ years.
Mr.. Ross outlined his policy regard
ing the attitude of the railroad Off
Gals toward the public, and incident
ally described the mental attitude
which he believed most helpful in at
tanning success in business.
THE purpose of railroad, as | see
| it." said Mr.. Ross, who for the last
two years has been traffic manager Of
| the system of which he is now vice
president, sis to sell transportation to
| the people 1t is not intended to
make a position for you or for me or
| for anybody else 1t is a commercial
enterprise with something to sell, and
| it should act accordingly. 1t has been
my constant endeavor to keep in touch
with the people-the patrons Of the
railroads. If more officials would
adopt the plan think we should have
better railroad laws and fewer of
/ them.
81 make it a rule never to refuse to
see anybody. The man who has a
complaint to make can always come
into my office and tell me about it. l
will pass whole day with him, if
necessary, in order to convince him he
has no real grievance or to do him
justice.
1T is the railroad officials who sit
behind closed doors and refuse to see
any one who have done much toward
getting the roads into bad repute. The
man whose card is sent back to him
with the words Nothing doing says
to himself: 'Crookedness somewhere,
all right, or why wouldn't they talk
to me?' If this man were made to
understand that the railroads are really
trying to do the right thing, all would
be different,
Il have always instructed all en-
ployes subject to my direction never
to refuse to hear complaints and to
treat compliments kindly. The re-
suit is that have had little trouble.
Perhaps my success in using this
policy comes from my having been in
close touch with the people all my life.
was born in Bloomington, III. When
was about 20 years old l got a job
as Office boy on the Wabash road
always tried to perform my duties in
that position as if it were the most
important position the road could Of
fer me. The consequence was that l
soon became an operator, then a chief
clerk, then a cashier.
| The next step upward was clerk
in the trainmaster's office Then | be-
! came general agent for the Indiana,
Illinois & Iowa, and on June 1, 1904, di-
vision freight and passenger agent Be
| fore the year was out | was appointed
] general passenger agent for the
/ Glover Leaf system, and year later
| general freight agent. Two years ago
came to Chicago as traffic manager
| for the road | am ut present associated
with
IF were to name any one thing
| as being most instrumental in helping
young men to success, it would be
| perseverance in the attitude that the
position you hold, however small, is as
| important as the highest Never de-
spise your work. Always put into it
all the energy there is in you. The
man who follows these rules can never
| fall far behind"