The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-03
THROW OUT THE LIFE Line. y
(By a Railroad MANI

When one glances over the brief
period of the existence of our govern
ment he readily discerns that business,
trades, industries and the construction
and management of railways are not
now as in days gone by. The changes
are almost Hken to kaleidoscope But
these deviations must be expected. The
mind of man travels in these tumultuous
times much faster than in previous CEN
turtles. What the future will bring
forth must be a conjecture. 1t will be
an amazement to the student of history
III the years to come. The growth OF
thought the accomplishment of ideas
in business, mechanics, travels, trades
and the handling of transportation will
be conducted by mas ical minds, all the
outgrowth of the experience of those
of the present age; and it is only in
keeping with the progress of the times,
laying foundations for the building of
things that will naturally come to the
mind of man as it develops and be-
comes strong by the hand of our Gre
ator, whose teachings are all for the
betterment of the human race.
The accomplishment of the future is
still encased in an unbroken tomb, and
while we look ahead We can not help
asking if, with the advancement of
thought and all the concomitant ideas
leading therefrom, there will be a rec
ord showing that the happening of ac-
ClO6nIS mas DeGn eliminated the
calendar of progress. We hope at least
that the mind of the laborer will ex-
pand and grow, keeping pace with all
advancementS, and that by his acts of
csrefulness the unnecessary accidents
of today will e eradicated from the re-
ports of the great Industrial. railway
and other enterprises of the future. 1t
car. not be otherwise,-it must be So
Today we wonder if then, it will be nee
essary to throw out the life line, to save
humanity from the perilous acts of the
careless. Existing conditions make US
all mariners on the great and trouble
some waters of life wherein labor is
employed. Today the storm is raging
lives are to be saved, and the life boats
must be manned by crews of laboring
men who are competent to handle the
life line to rescue their fellows who are
dashed hither and thither by the mad
dening waves,-all created by the care
lesSness of either themselves or their
fellows. Every laborer should have his
life line with him at all times, and
should be trained in its handling, so
that when necessity arises he will be
able to throw out this line to rescue his
fellows from the approaching wave of
careleSsneSs. There are many men
competent to handle the life line: others
never appear to have given such pre-
csution of care a thought. 1t is easy TO
think, but hard to concentrate ones
thoughts. 1t is no task to drift over
the waves, but on the approach of a
storm the thoughts of care must be
brought into active requisition, and if
these thoughts have not been cultivated
during the calm of the sea, the handling
of the life line by the laborer availeth
nothing, for the reason he has fitted
away the days he should have been
studying how and in what way, in case
of an emergency, he can protect not
only himself but others.
TIL, erix all
element of precaution. 1t is for our pro-
lection; it needs only slight culture
to give it a strong healthy growth, but
IL we allow it to remain dormant and
do not cultivate it, watering it with the
idea of care. it will not be long until