Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-12

of his naval career. From bovhood he had
lived for this moment. his long terms OF
sea duty. the monotony OF Shore service,
tho CnXietes OF war. the long absences
from his family the arrogance of superior
officers, tho whole chapter OF The rlsors,
thc sclf-doniul tho SEIZED scipli1e was to
be crowned with the evidence o. honor
which his country bcstows upon faithful
navy officers, He looked his expectation
Of words OF praise as If in lonely watches
he had dreamed of the eloquent sntences
which would become the psalm of his old
age.
The secretary Of the navy stood ny,
handed the open parchment to the speech
less rear admiral and said only IN s:
Admiral Blank, here's your commission"
Then he sat down to his desk and won't
on with Ills work. unconscious OF having
smashed a llfetime's dream.
Yet despite Mr.. Morton's abrupt and de-
cisivc MAJ ner, there was kindly strain in
hic raturc that endeared him to all his
associates and particularly TO those work
ms uadcr HIM. For instance he once sue
cuu.l,d 10 the Cloqucncc Of pass llend
and gave the man FREQ ride over one Of
Tho lines OF the Santa Fee railroad, OF
which no was vic, president \ day o. so
later the representative OF another road
10 whom appeals had also been made 70.
.imllar transportation. was In NJ M1rton'e
-r.ice.4 Some question came up with a
clerk about tho pass and he spoke to MI
Mcy on regarding It in Tho presence OF TN
other railroad man. This man immedia ely
ohidcd Mr.. Morton for violating pass rules
and thgn retired. Mr.. Mortun's wrath i'm
nedlatcly fell on the unfortunate clerk
htn1 and although the clerk is a high
railroad official TODAY. he says that nc
will never forget the scoring he received.
/ he had no chance TO explain or say W 3rd
/ Tho next morning he ventured an apologl
/ end Mr.. Morton said; "Oh, that's an
right Georac What made me mad was
/ th5t fellow coming in here and violating
/ the privacy OF our affairs. You were noe
/ to blame but we VIII get even with him
/ by cuttu- OF his annual"
GA thc Re,lrord ladder.
one Of the higher officers once came into
/ Mr.. Mortens room and complained OF the
/ amount OF gas consumed In his department
I by clerks working overtime at night. MT
( Morton grlmy posted a notice 10 the effect
! that thereafter all clerks who could rot dc
their work during office hours would he
| discharged Mr Mortous progress ha1
been uninterrupted since the age OF 4,
years when he chose to take position
with the b. & NJ. road a Plattsmouth, Neb
He was always alert 20 his opportunities
and never lost a chance OF selling them
I This Is illustrated In story that Is told OF
the manner IN which ne became genera
freight agent Of the Burlington Mr.. Nor
ton had always been a freight department
man. but he had been compelled 20 aacep
the position OF general passenger agent o
the system. While he attended strictly Z,
the dulles OF the office, he never liked TN
work, and waited FOR his opportunity q
get hack into the freight department. !,
a short time T.. P. Ripley, who was the
the freight agent of the road resigned
and Mr Stone, the general manager, Gallo,
MT Morton IN conference with other de
paytmCnt chiefs TO discuss an availabl
man as Ripley's successor Each In turl
, gave hts opinion, and when e came TO Nh
Morton he said. Mr.. stone 4 know Jus
the man Tor the Job. n Is a fellow name
Paul Morton Nj. Morton suggestion
was Cdoptcd.
Another trait Of Mr. Morton was hi
A.. fairness. lie did not believe a rich ma
b should use his Influence 20 escape IA
f. duties OF a citizen once he was drawn o
jury duty and an offcious subord.nat
sought TO get him excused without nj
knowledge. assuming that man Of sue
- cOmpa, atod affairs would have no time 70
X such trifles. The financier heard OF e an