The Washington herald., 1912-10-20

WILLIAM
sether are better than signals working
| separately. When man. with brains. be-
gins to depend on mechanical devices
| without brains. something unintended II
bound to happen. Man. whether on q rail.
road or in q factory. must not be per.
| mitted to transfer his duties to Q steam
or an electrical substitute. Nor should
he let the politicians do his thinking
So 1 am back again." Mr.. Cannif said
with a SMILE" to the place in our con.
| versation from which we started
How do railroad managers" I asked
feel about the future Of their business?'
MANY of them are apprehensdve. The
rich corporations do not fear bankruptcy
but not knowing what may occur they
have become cautious and thus have
under q threat. or in danger OF new
attack, will stand still and not go for
ward boldly. Thus less labor is being
employed and less steel is being purchased
than would be the case were politicians
to let the people go unhindered about
their legitimate business. Buckle asserts
that trade IL prosperous and healthy
the wisest acts of legislators. ordinarily,
lies in the repeal Of statutes laboriously
and boastfully written into the books by
their predecessors.'
He Knew All His Men.
In what respects is railroading differ
ent from what 1t used to be-" I in
quireo.
Il suspect that you are trying to get
Cannin answered. THE most noticeable
difference. in my view of the matter. is
the change in the relationship OF the
men who are doing the work and the
men who are directing how the work
shall be done. This different state Of
things. however. has come into all kinds
Of large business. to the disadvantage.
ployes. There was q time when I knew
the names Of all the conductors. engi-
neers. station agents, brakemen. and Sec
ton foremen on the Lake Shore. west Of
Toledo. After I became general superin-
tendent Of the road q personal acQuaint-
anceship with thousands Of new men was
impossible. and I knew that I had lost
something. We have a veterans associa-
ton on the Nickel Plate for those who
years. We meet every summer. and We
all think that the comradship thus kept
alive Is good for the company. as well
as for the public and ourselves. The
association promotes interest in ones
work and gives a feeling of permanency
even to the youngest man on tho line.
when capital and labor are brought
closer together. prejudices will disappear
and there will be good will. where now
there are doubt and contention. Mr.. Ed
ward P. Ripley. president Of the Atchi-
son. Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, can
not know but a few Of the thousands of
men who are operating his road. but he
has aroused their enthusiasm and made
them feel that they arc working for an
appreciative employer. II one will board
q Santa Fe train at Chicago, bound for
he will notice during his Jour-
ney that the men who run the train are
courteous. good humored, and alert and
intelligent in the performance Of their
duties. The brakemen call 1t our road
Conradship, hut with Discipline.
Those two words. our road explain
my doctrine with respect to all sorts of
businessman first. not to the cost of
discipline, remember. but with rules that
must be obeyed and with penalties, not
Imposed after a snap judgment, however.
but when the facts have been sifted out
and established. No ono likes to reverse
himself. 1t IL not human nature mourn
fully to confess a blunder or an injustice.
possibly. 1t ought to be. This
habit Of mind to dodge and deny
may be attributed to mans natural desire
10 defend himself. but fear 1t Ii moth
ng short Of egotism at certain times
Ind with certain persons. The head Of q
railroad IL reluctant to admit that he has
made q mistake. Tho mechanic hesitates
10 confess that the car was not safe |
when It left the shop. So. no matter |
what happens, be 1t good or bad. man |
dominates and IL responsible and IL Of |
lrst importance. Managers Of men. there |
'ore. need to know more than how to plan |
md bargain"
speaking Of safe cars" said, 'lst me /
lsk IL q fast train isn't more dangerous |
han q slow oner'
''Physics." Mr.. Cannifr replied. will
Inswer your question. We are too fast in |
many respects. The Titanic was too fast. |
The daily death list shows that automo-
'iles are too fast. We should slow down
III along the line. Railroads, under the
tress Of competition. began covering the |
distance between New York and Chicago
n eighteen hours. Now, In dignity, they
annot lengthen the schedule. From pas
engers, they went to freight. Consider
Ibls merchandise II travelling at the rate
4 Loo miles in two days and two nights.
Ana man. the beginning and center and
nd Of all designs. 10 paying the price Of
10 Increased speed In life, IN nerves, and
D the loss Of balance and strength"
OogydGhAsd. M b Jana D. Nmuuv.)
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