Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-08-26
ny JAMES B. MORROW.

N unnoticed army of 100000
A Americans, without bugles or
AN banners, has been fighting the
q ~ Prussian barbarians every day
since April.
The figures are Howard Eliiott's. one
Of the five generals in chief command
Of the host. which is composed,o of men
In the main. although many women are
sallantly battling in the ranks
Broadly. this huge army is divided
into railway employees, Of whom there
are two million. and of railway own
ers, who number a million and half,
These men and these women, with their
families. MI. Elliott says. represent
nearly one-sixth of the population of
the United States"
What thex have done during the last
four months to conquer the Huns is
story that SO far has not been told.
Few know it. And the few who do
know it are amazed at the results that
have been achieved.
There is only one railroad now in the
United States From coast to coast
east and west and from frontier to
road as respects its management. with
$4,000 miles of tracks, is hauling
troops and freights under the inspira-
tion of high resolve-the rescue of
civilization from the menace of bar
bArism.
This railroad. the pooling of several
hundred properties. is being operated
Tor the government. Not by the gov
tape does not exist Authorities do not
conflict Egotism does not strive for
publicity. Demagogues make no at
fempts to beguile or befuddle the cleo
forAte-
4. 1t is straight business-the running
of the national railroad-and. perhaps.
the finest example Of straight business
in some ways ever enjoyed by the
American people No law brought the
railways together. They came together
Voluntarily. under the impulse of
patriotism. when danger threatened the
country.
Here are our tracks. engines and
cars" said the railroads to the nation.
Sand our men. Take them and use
them until the war is over-I
The men" included all men = presi-
dents, supersntendents, engineers. con-
auctors. station agents. telegraphers,
brakemen, firemen and track hands
But it was understood that the men
would operate the railroads for the ma
ton as they had for the owners-ac-
cording TO their own rules. by their
own methods and under their old man.
ayers. The condition having been ac-
eepted. the railroads created a directory
of FIVE governors, as was the case in
France, during the revolutionary period
beginning in 1895
The name of this autocratic body is
the railroads war board. Ii says to the
Pennsylvania lines. send 1000 empty
cars to Georgia" and to the New York
Central lines. send 1900 empty cars
to Tennessee and Alabama" And the
next day the cars begin to move south
ward, from sidings up and down the
tracks and from checked terminals
During the past four months, bust
ness men in Washington are saying.
the efficiency of American railroads
has been increased 25 per cent. Thou
sands of troops are being transported
to environments and the seaboard. and
millions of tons of war material are
being hauled to points of mobilization.
but. even SO. the regular freight bust
pess of the country. larger now than
ever before. is being better done than
formerly.
:. 1t is supposed that Daniel Willard
president of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. suggested the idea of CO.
6rdinating the land transportation
agencies of the nation. AT all events,
he was directed by the Council of Ma
ffonal Defense, being a member there
Of "to call upon the railroads, so TO
organize their business as to lead
10 the greatest expedition in the move
ment of freight.
50 on April IL the chief officers OF