Evening journal., 1911-07-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Man Who Discovered
the Political Value Of Rail-
road Passes
BY Holland.

Yesterday, on the authority of the
late Commodore Alfred Van Santvoord,
who at the time Of his death was the
wealthiest and most successful steam
boat line proprietor IN the East, told
how Dean Richmond of Buffalo became
the real father Of modern railway con-
solidation by reason of a sudden
thought which came to him while he
was riding upon the Erie canal. Com
modore Van Santvoord knew both
Dean Richmond and Commodore Van
derbilt well, and he was always of the
belief that the latter, who is gener-
ally looked upon as the father of mod
ern railway consolidation, got the idea
from Dean Richmond's feat In consoli-
dating, in 1858, the seven railway
lines stretching from Albany to Buf-
falo into the New York Central Rail-
road, which, after Richmond's death,
Commodore Vanderbilt linked with his
Hudson River Railroad.
But Dean Richmond, according to
Commodore Van Santvoord, did not
limit his discoveries in railroad mat
ters to the law of consolidation; he
was, also, the discoverer Of the great
political and legislative value which
WAS contained in the railway pass.
Dean Richmond, let it be understood
was from the mid-forties to 1864 the
real Democratic leader in New York
State. He could have had any office
within the gift of his party, but, like
his intimate friend, Thurlow Weed, the
Whig and Republican leader of New
York State, he always declined the Of
fer of any nomination to public Of
flee
Before I entered the railway bust
ness" Mr.. Richmond once told Com
modore Van Santvoord, railway pass
es We're given almost solely to railway
employees, although sometimes they
were handed TO merchants who made
large use of railways for Transports
tion, as / learned when I was in the
produce business in Buffalo. But after
| got my railroad organized, I began
to extend. as mere matter of cour-
tesy. the pass privilege to my political
friends I'm the State Legislature. l soor
found out that If there is one thing
that a member of legislature likes II
is a railroad pass. | also discovered
that il ] gave passes to the members
was sure of their friendship, and
could get anything ! wanted And
made the further discovery that pass
was a very easy way of getting rid OF
an importunate politician or of one
D. civ inc frr
There was in Buffalo a politician
who made me think of a humble bee
He was a persistent nuisance. We die
not know exactly how to get rid oi
him.
"One day he called upon me and told
me that he would take il as a very
great favor If l would give him pass
to New York.
Il told him that nothing would give
me greater pleasure, provided hi
would promise to use the pass in cas-
/ l gave it to him.
He replied that of course he wantei
to use il for himself and that h
wouldn't think of asking for a pass 70
himself to be used by somebody else.
80 ] made a pass out and / hande
il to him, saying that unless he KEEP
HIS lIOiulnt W lllt WOuAu AdnItA IL
"He thanked me and went out. i
few minutes he came back, and tol
me that there was something wron
about the pass | made a pretense c
reading it, and then told him there wa
nothing wrong about 1t.
Why said he, it's only good on
way; from Buffalo to New York
Well,' said l, that's just what 20
asked for And / was ready enough [
give you the pass to New York becaus
/ hoped when you got there you'd sta
there l gave it to you to get rid of yol
: and if I'd given you return pas
you'd be sure to come back
We'll, it did get rid Of him. He wei
to New York, tied up to some of Ii
e local politicians there and never cam
: back to Buffalo. l have never given
, pass that brought me better paymel
than that one"
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lite
airy Press.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
"a Story of William Mckinley, Coz
J. -