The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-12
President Nudge Tells of DeVel'
Opment of Railroads.
DISCRIMINATION END
Discusses Present Agitation to
Limit the Earnings.
Believes in Ultimate Fairness OF
American People.
Words of Appreciation From
Commercial Club Members.

The complimentary dinner given by
the Commercial club for President n;
L. Nudge of the Rock Island lines ana
his official staff Tuesday evening was
a happy affair. One hundred ana
seventy-five Topekans, including
number of The officials of the Santa Re
railroad and scores of prominent Dusl-
ness men were present to pay their re-
spects to the chief executive and of1-
GERS of great railroad system, which
has done much for Topeka and Kansas
and the great southwest territory.
President Nudge, who got his start
in Kansas, and who at one time was
an official of the Santa Fe with head
quarters in Topeka. has always Deen
popular in the capital city. He was
the special guest of honor. Other Rock
Island officials who were entertained
by the Commercial club we're: F. o.
Melcher, second vice president; John
Sebastian third vice president; ii.
Cover, freight traffic manager, and Il.
3. Peirce, general solicitor.
A general feeling of good fellow
ship prevailed at the banquet, and at
the conclusion of the program OF
speeches a social hour was enjoyed
The day of enmity between railroads
and railroad officials has passed and
It was a noticeable fact that no more
cordial welcome was extended to the
guests of the hour than by the officials
of the Santa F'e railroad.
said J. Will Kelley. president of the
Commercial club, who acted as toast
master for the occasion, ito tender
our respects to the officials of one of
the great midcontinent railway sys-
TENS of this country. For some time
we have had this event in mind. We
are delighted that we now have the
opportunity to get acquainted with
them and they with us. This banquet
is given with this end in view
In all the speeches which followed
by the railway officials the question of
bringing the Rock Island shops to To-
peka was carefully avoided, but many
important topics concerning railroad
management were touched upon.
It goes without saying that the CEN
ter of attraction was President Nudge.
Other speakers were: Scott Hopkins,
Arthur Capper, Frank P. MacLennan,
F. O. Melcher, second vice president
of the Rock Island lines: John Sebas-
tain. third vice president; H. Cover
freight traffic manager, and E. B.
Peirce, general solicitor.
Mr.. Mudge's Speech
II have given some thought as to
Wat it would please you to have me
talk about" said President Nudge. II
am sure you do not want me to talk
politics as you have a sufficiency Of
that by those skilled in the art. 1 as
sumo that you would prefer that l say
something about the railroads, as that
seems to be a topic on which almost
anyone can talk, and yet, who can talk
railroading without at once getting into
politics? While 1 am speaking of the
railroads, I wish it understood that L
do not speak for them
The politicians tell US that the rail-
roads must be kept out of politics and
the railroad men tell us that politics
should be kept out of the railroads [
am convinced that the railroad owner
would hail with delight the day Oh
which both is accomplished But the
millennium is not yet here; the poll
ticians will find the railroads fruitful
subject for exploitation long after we
here tonight have ceased to have an ill.,
terest in the matter, and 1 predict that
the railroads will be in politics long
after the question ceases to be Of in
terest to private capital. If this is a
reasonable view, then does it not TO-
low that railroad men ought also TO be
politicians?
webster gives two definitions of a
politician: 1. One versed or experi-
enced in the science of government:
one devoted to politics; a statesman ,
One primarily devoted to his own ad-
vancement in public office or to the
success of a political party
DO not suggest that railroad men
should aspire to the second estate. 1
believe that field is already fairly wei
cultivated.
Might Have Averted Trouble.
Il believe that many of the differ
ences that now exist or are said to
exist between the public and the rail-
roads would have been avoided if rail
road men and other business men had
been better politicians. The men who
operate the railroads have been good
soldiers. and in this they are not much
dlHerent from other business men.