The Washington herald., 1911-06-18

tance in fear and eageness. Soldering
or railroading, ultimately, was to be his
business. Going to West Point he was
graduated in 1891 and was commissioned
as lieutenant IN the army, serving four
years, principally in Cincinnati. He read
law at school n that city and was ad-
mitted to practice.
Friends Said He Was Crazy.
Then the railroad began to CALL" he
said to me. Indeed, / studied law
with the call in my ears and the old
visions Of my boyhood coming back
very regularly. Besides, was an active
man, you understand, and wanted to be
doing something outside of my military
duties. When / finally decided to quit
the army friends in and out of the serv-
ice said 1 must be crazy. 1 went to
Melville z. Ingalls,, president of the
Cleveland, Cincinnati Chicago and St
Louis Railway. commonly known as the
Big Four, and plainly told him of my
Intentions. First of all. wanted to
learn railroad fundamentals. Mr. ingalls,,
therefore, sent me to the trainmaster
and the trainmaster put me on the list
Of substitute brakemen. saying to him
self. as he later Informed me, that after
sliding down Long Hill three or four
times, turning brakes by hand and go
Ing from car to car on the gallop 1
would promptly hand in my resignation.
II earned S29 the first month, as
against s12S as a lieutenant of infantry
The second month I drew $50 from the
pay car. Afterward / was a switchman.
At Anderson Ind, where l was yard
master, actually demonstrated that I
had some capacity for the practical de-
tails of the railroad business Mean
while, I had been a conductor on freight
trains occasionally. In course of time
1 was made trainmaster, right of way
agent, and chief clerk at the general
offices in Cleveland. Then the Spanish
war came on and 1 went to Cuba as a
major of volunteers, serving at Santiago
during the closing days of the campaign,
being under fire. I am glad to say. and
getting yellow fever, which was as bad
as being shot, 1 think. Returning to my
home in Virginia / was appointed re-
ceiver of a trolley road that runs into
Washington. My next service was with
the Hartman lines. / had ideas about
organization, after studying the subject
for several years Mr.. Kruttschnitt
What is the unit system for corpora
tions?" 1 inquired
1T is the abandonment of awkward
and roundabout methods by which time
is squandered and efficiency is impaired.
1t gives the Individual man chance to
think as well as to work. 1t abolishes
government by typewriter and paper and
makes it personal vital, and responsible. |
1t ends the feudal system in business. |
the rule OF private secretaries and OF
chief clerks acting instead of their mas |
ters. and establishes a center OF authority |
that is. competent and always present |
In court, the lawyers address the bench |
no matter what judge Is hearing the case.
Nor can a judge call in his stenographer |
TO take his place.
of Medieval management.
Under the feudal practice of the Mid /
die Ages, land was divided into iaefs. and |
each was operated as separate king
dom. There was neither cohesion nor
Sometimes a single lord |
was stronger than his sovereign. That |
system. governing nations. was trans
ferred to business outgrown and ais
czrded by civilized countries. II stIil ling
ers, IN the United States. at least among /
commercial undertakings.
Take . railroad, for instance IS an
example Of medieval management. A
division superintendent may have from /
500 70 500 miles Of track from 100 to