South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-08-02
BY MARGARET TOBIN.

There are things more exciting
than running for mayor, games so
thrilling that in comparison politics
seems like a couple of old men play
ing checkers in the chimney corner.
That is why John a. Swygart the
Citizens candidate for the nomination
for mayor, is a bit Indifferent as to
the outcome of the compaign.
I'm a railroad man." said Mr..
ISwygart, when i asked him about his
career. i've worked on railroads ali
my life and if l were doing the thing
like best to do I'd be working on
a railroad right now"
] found Mr.. SWygart in the back
yard Of his home on West Washing
ton av., cleaning up his automobile
after his trip to the Chamber of
Commerce picnic. Taking his car
out over dusty roads was a cOnces-
sion he made TO the fact of his being
candidate. But the next morning
he would give to cleaning ii up again
though the whole ticket should go to
pot
He wouldn't stop to talk politics
but he would stop to talk railroads.
climbed into the back seat of the car
to listen and before long he had drop
ped his tools and was sitting in the
seat ahead of me. And then l lis
tened, fascinated while he sang for
me the song of the rail-. l forgot
all about mayors and little things like
that.
Began as Brakeman.
He told me about the work that
had taken him from one end of the
country TO another. He tol me of his
career as brakeman, fireman, engin-
eer and conductor. He told me
about building railroads in Texas,
managing a line along the Mississip
pi river, and running the engine of a
goth century limited on the Wabash.
He gave me "A peep behind the
scenes into the intricacies of railroad
management.
l learned the relative authority and
importance of engineer and conduct
or, the duties of train dispatchers,
road masters and Superintendents. l
learned the elaborate system of giving
and receiving orders and the reasons
why there are smash-ups and coils
ions.
Railroad men are the best fellows
in the world" Mr.. SwygaTt told me.
They are clean and honest. and they
are good to their families and good
to each other"
He went on to pay the men of this
craft eloquent tribute. They are gen
erOus and WhOle-hearted" he said
They are also alert, steady and
true They've got To be-" said Mr..
Swygart you bet YOU"
Ii there are thrills in the ordinary
duties of railroading there are thrills
upon thrills in its ordinary phases. in
the building of new roads and the
blazing of new trails. He told me of
digging tunnels, cutting down hills,
and the camp life OF the railroad
builder He told me of the time
when he was in charge Of camp OF
$500 men.
Had TO Call Troops.
There were all kinds of fellows in
it." said Mr.. Swygart. Thieves.
drunkards. bandits, murderers. 1
guess" He told me OF an occasion
when he had to have the assistance
Of the militia and a detachment OF
deputy sheriffs 10 quell a disturbance.
And when we got through. said
he. Eve had taken away As revOivers
on. I tell YOU" ne added, 1T isn't any
Young Mems Christian association"
If Mr.. Swygart is elected he won't be
afraid OF his job.
Mr.. Swygart told me interesting
stories Of the human derelicts that
drifted into the camp. He told me OF
his friendship for a notorious train
robber And he was a good fellow.
too Sam was, said Mr.. Swygart, you
bet ne was
He introduced the eternal femi-
nine into the narrative. RE told me
about the Lady and the Pirate. The
Lady was a lovely southern girl. The
Pirate was a stalwart young engineer
who was doing some construction
work in Mr.. Swygart's camp. Twas
the Lady who called him pirate
when she saw him in his working
clothes. Mr.. Swygart told me how
she changed her opinion later when
she saw him slicked up in the garb