The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1913-08-28
FLBfRT HUBBARD
ON RA|LROADMEN

Hubbard, entitled Railroadmen,' of
which the following Is a copy:
Once upon time there was a sail
orman who told big stories about the
countries he had visited. One day a
man asked him this:
"Have you ever been to Australian
"Indeed | have was the reply.
"And did you meet any of those
kangaroosg,
"Sure / did, and here the sailor
was slightly up in an aeroplane.
Sure, / met lots of kangaroos, and
their money is just as good as any
body IS
! Let every businessman remember
that the crouch money is Just as
/ good as anybody's.
/ 1t takes money to meet the "over-
head, to take care of terminal
charges, to maintain the upkeep.
No railroad can shut down and take
a vacation. A lockout on a railroad
is impossible. The railroad has to
keep trains moving, whether pas
sengers and freight come or not. To
stop means bankruptcy for stockhold-
ers, bondholders, employees and the
public.
Travellers expect safety and service
To meet these expectations is the bust
ness of railroadman.
| have noticed that there are some
railroads where courtesy toward the
public is practised to a degree that
does not always prevail, and which
a. nj lu li1 80 ba IL
times, when if you asked a railroad
man question, be was apt to snap
your head off.
No good railroadman now is
!" fresh toward passengers, nor does
he give an uneivil answer to anybody.
The same question may be asked
over and over again, but it is his bust
ness to reply with unfailing patience.
Especially does good railroadman
look after the welfare of elderly peo-
pie, foreigners, buckwheats, child
rem and all of those who seem TO need
a little protecting care.
Most of the railroadmen in high
places today are men who came up
from the ranks, and they were advane-
ed simply on account o. their superior
ability in rendering service to the
public. 'Pull,' nowadays. does not
count.
The question is, sHow much bust
ness can you divert to your road, and
take good care OFF, There are very
few lines of railroad TODAY that have
monopoly. People can usually take
their choice of routes, and the public
is pretty sure to travel by the route
where courtesy, kindness, good will and
the smile habit prevail.
| remember once, on western road,
about thirty years ago, of a trainman
who got into an argument with a pas
senger. No doubt the passenger was
very trying and the railroadman gave
him what he deserved-that was
backhand slap In the mouth.
The railroadman reported the case
somewhat jubilantly to the conductor
and said, 81 gave him just what was
coming and | bet you we never see
him on this railroad again!'
The conductor replied: 81 fear that
is just what will happen. We have
lost one customer.
A little kindness and diplomacy
would have made that scrap ununeces-
sary.
The passenger asked a fool ques-
tion, and the railroadman gave a sharp
reply, and then the passenger made an
insulting remark and got called.
No doubt the trainman was right
the man would travel by any other
route than that thereafter.
The truth is, scraps never settle
ANYTHING. Railroadmen who want to
fight should Join the army, or go to
Mexico.
Just remember that the money of
the Kangaroo is as good as any
body's, and money is a necessary fac
tor in maintaining railroads.
Good railroadmen, in dealing with
the public, when they present them
selves for business are well dressed,
but not too well dressed.
| can remember when some railroad
men wore expansive shirt fronts. with
diamond studs and wondrous iewelry,
also side whiskers. And these men
had way of making love to the pret
tv lady passeng gers and leaving all old
women beautifully in the lurch.
ANY special attention to any passen-
ger is new cut of place, as every good
rail-oaaTan knows. If YOU have any
EXTRA courtesy TO pass out give it to
those who need il most, and let the
chiffon and bomhazine @ chase itself.
Every passenger sports trainman
who is trying to 'ay cornerstone.
COED railroa oman carries certain
degree of dignity.
Above all things. he is personally
agreeable. He knows the use of
toothbrush, comb, a pipe and six lead
pencils in the northwest ( corner Of his
vcs
He is manieured. HIS shoes are
shined- His necktie is of modest
hue. He does net roll up his trousers
to snow that his socks match his tie
He gets his regular sleep, and he does
not have the yellow forefnger of tfe
cigarette smoker. He has good
breath and bright eve. showing that
he is on good terms with himself and
Il h. Il