The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-02
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rock IslandMan Says Employees
Must Organize.
Worker Should Be Interested in
His Company.
LOYALTY DEMANDED.
This Big Item in Success of the
Railroad.
Other Items of General Inter-
est in Traffic World,

At meeting of Denver, Col, branch
of the American Railroad EMPLOYEES
and Investors association, an address
was delivered by George W. Martin,
general agent of the Rock Island lines,
in which he said:
The success of every institution rests
primarily, first, on carefully construct
ed organization, and, second, on the
loyal cooperation and harmonious eff
forts of the individuals comprising such
organizations. Without discipline or
ganization is a farce, and without har-
mony and loyalty success is practically
impossible. The success of any insti-
tuition means the success of the individ-
uaI who works for that institution. On
the other hand, the failure of an en-
terprise means, as rule, loss of en-
ployment to those who constitute it's
organization and from such a source
derive the means of support for them
selves and their families. Why, then is
not the man who works for the railroad
equally, if not more. interested in the
success of that road than the stock
holder. The former, as a, rule, without
having other means of support derives
from his employment the means to
meet the necessities of life for himself
and those dependent on him, while the
latter uses the institution as a medium
of investment, and while he expects his
reward, he has, as rule, other means
and he is not SO dependent en- the out
cessities of life, to the same extent as
is the man who works for the railroad.
1 say this for the reason that the own
ership of railroads is made up Of large
numbers of stockholders who represent
as a rule, people of means who diver
sify their. investments in such way
as not to have to depend entirely on
the success or failure of any one in
vestment for necessary means to meet
life's problems.
Loyalty Necessary to Success.
I have never had the privilege of
seeing more than one side, that of the
employee, but my gratitude to the good
company that gives me my employment
is such as to inspire in me feeling
Of loyalty for that institution, and an
interest in its welfare and success that
could hardly be exceeded or equaled
by any one among the many thousands
of stockholders constituting it's owner
ship, all of whom, perhaps, are not in
dividually dependent on the outcome of
any one of their investments to the
same extent as I am (without other
means) dependent on my employment.
1 belong to the large army of those who
work for railroads. All who derive
their employment and support from
such a source, regardless of rank or
position, should give to his company
the most loyal efforts of which he is
capable. The men who do this are the
men who succeed.
The railroad organization is in some
respects like the organization of our
army. Many of their ablest and best
officials are men who come from the
ranks In every department OF rail-
reading the door of success is always
open, and each mans loyalty and eff
forts determine the degree of his sue
cess. Many men lay too much stress
on the thought of promotion. L believe
this is a mistake. for / am convinced
that if a man will devote all the time
and energy of which he is capable to
the problem with which he is entrust-
ed he can depend on it that his future
will take care of itself. and that pro-
motion, which inspires US all, will
come when 1t is least expected. Sue
cess means doing well, whatever may
be entrusted to us, and promotion
though at times slow, is invariably its
reward.
Organization Essential.
Railroad organization is in many re-
spects like a locomotive, in that each
part or portion is dependent on the
other for the successful operation OF
the machine as whole, and On the
harmonious action of all parts and por-
tioIfs depends the usefulness OF the en-
CINE. The same may be said of rail-
road organization covering the various
departments. Harmony between all the
departments and harmony between the
men performing the work of the depart
| ments is the first prerequisite OF sue
cessful operation as a whole. If har-
mony exists among the men that vir-
tue must necessarily be reflected to the
public on whom the railroads must de-
pend for their patronage. The man IN
charge of department, Office, shops, IN
fact any part of the general organ1za-
ton, is more or less responsible for the
relationship existing between the men
under him. His example should be such
as to inspire among his men feeling