The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-16

I1lIFOauS from the Pullman SLTlKe al
| Chicago. Ration was the storm center
of the difficulty on the Santa Fe, IF not
the storm center of the difficulty all
| over the United states Nearly 800 men
Wens out on about 225 miles of the main
line and it became impossible to move
train of any kind, freight. passenger
or nail for fully two weeks. Superin-
tendent Hurley with six other men who
remained loyal to the company went
armed and kept up the fight against
all the strikers. But that Is too long a
story 20 tell all the details. Suffice to
say that Mr.. Hurley had the most
strenuous time Of his life during that
period.
He carried off the situation in a mas
teriy manner and kept the upper hand,
however, and was later made general
superintendent of the coast lines with
jurisdiction from Albuquerque to Los
Angeles nd San Francisco. When the
Santa Fe proper was divided in twp
grand divisions, Hurley Was selected to
be general superintendent of the west
ern grand division with headquarters
at La Junta. He next came to Topeka
with the title of general superintendent
of the eastern grand division. He be-
came general ma mayer of the Santa Fe
May 1, 1906
Ed Howe's Estimate.
The secret of Mr.. Hurley's success
is epitomized in an editorial which Ed
Howe printed in the Atchison Globe.
In brief space he sums up the situa-
ton about right in regard to Mr.. Hur-
ley's advancement. He says:
IF you are willing to work; If you
can do something well; if you are re-
liable, and have fairly good Judgment,
nothing can keep you down. Every
man is conceited, and thinks his fool
way is right. He insists on his fool
way. and remains poor; he occupies a
miner position. when he might have a
big one. Look yourself over; if you
are able to acknowledge your own
faults and improve on them. nothing
can keep you down. But there is the
trouble: few people are able to ac-
knowledge their faults.
There is the case of Jim Hurley,
the new general manager on the Santa
Fe- He had as poor start as it is
possible for man to have; he was
originally section hand. He was de-
MED the advantage of an early edu-
cation. but managed to get one. In
stead of spending his spare time play
ing billiards, he learned TELEGRAPH at
night. His willingness to work at
tracted attention, and his advancement
was rapid.
"You can do it, If you are willing;
but are you willing? Are you willing
your superior? OF course he is, or he
wouldn't be above you. There is no
sentiment in this matter of promotion
Do you say you are as good as any
body when your neighbors know you
are not? There is great demand for
first class men. You can easily get a
big job if you are able to fill it,
Condensed Sketch.
James E. Hurley, general manager,
was born on June 1, 1860, at Wapello,
Iowa He finished high school at
Wapello in 1872 and attended Bloom
field Iowa) Normal school during the
winter of 1s73-7475. He entered
railway service in 1880 with the A, T.
& S. F. railroad, since which he has
been consecutively to 1882 brakeman,
warehouseman and baggageman; 1882
to 1888, operator and clerk at various
stations in Kansas and relief agent on
the Rio Grande and New Mexico d.
visions, also chief clerk and cashier,
1887, agent, Florence, Kan; 1887 to
March, 1888, chief clerk to general
superintendent. Toueka, Kan; March.
1888, to September, 1891, trainmaster:
September to October. 1891. assistant
superintendent Marceline, Mo-; Octo-
ber,1S91, to June, 1894, assistant SUI
perintendent. Fort Madison, Iowa;
June to October. 1894, Superintendent
of the New Mexico division, Las
Vegas, N. M; October, 1894, to Janu
airy, 1901, superintendent of the New
Mexico and Rio Grande division; jan
uary to October, 1901, acting general
superintendent of lines west of Albu
querque, Los Angeles, CAL; October,
1901, to July, 1902, general superin
tendent of the western grand division,
La Junta, Colorado; July, 1902, to May
1. 1905, general superintendent OF
eastern grand division, Topeka, Kan;
May 1, 1905, to date, general man
ager. Office, Topeka, Kansas.