New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-03
Federal Operation
Makes Solicitors of
Traffic Needless
Specialists in Creatin 8
Good Feeling Forced
Into Other Work
Especial Corrcspondencc1

OHlCAOO, April 2.-ApprOXlmate!y
5000 railroad traffic solicitors must
find other jobs or do other kinds OF
work for the TRANSFORMATION lines, be-
cause, in officially killing competition.
Director General of Railroads McAdoo
left these agents with nothing to do.
Although these men were not in the
high salary class, they were the busy
bees of the transportation world They
were the "mixers" and go-betweens
linking the railroads and the public.
Their perpetual contact with shippers,
passengers and others made their
knowledge of the public in every way
broad, intelligent and timely. Their
suggestions, based on their knowledge,
was acted upon by the presidents Of
close to the public.
These solicitors knew shippers; they
knew politicians, religious organiza-
tons, theatrical folk lawmakers. They
were often personally acquainted with
the biggest men of the country, and
their influence went far beyond the
mere matter of soliciting and securing
traffc or a few passengers. They ere
ated favorable atmosphere around the
railroads.
Helped in Many Ways
In many cases they were developers
and often sales agents for manufacture
ers and helpers in farm work By way
of illustration: The travelling freight
agent of Western road stationed in
the territory east of Buffalo, being
familiar with all phases of the trans
mississippi territory, could often and
has often given Eastern manufacturers
and merchants tips for the sale Of their
wares in the West, and in some eases
really acted as salesman and consum-
mated sales, doing it, Of course. with
the idea of getting the shipments for
his railroad. In so doing he helped
not only his company but the manu-
facturer or merchant in the East ard
the buyer and his district in the West.
The traffic solicitor was also an agri-
cultural accelerator, inducing people to
buy land and take up farming
1t will be difficult after two years or
more of enforced slumber for the traf-
hc solicitors to revive their activities
and resurrect their associations. A
percentage of general officers and even
presidents of many railroads, apart
from their legal necessity, might per
haps IN many ways be more easily
spared than these vital cogs in the
transportation machines. If the traf-
tic solicitors were merely to be tenn
porarily sidetracked and a definite and
sure resumption of their work agreed
upon, they might keep the fires of
their influential connections burning so
that they could be readily revived after
the end of government operation. But
the fact is they are either being dis
charged or put in clerical positions or
are resigning of their own volition for
work in other lines of business. The
absence of these men will be sorely
felt, especially in the smaller towns
and cities.
A Hint From the South
One of the Southern railroads has
hit upon d plan Of using these solic-
itors and former outside agents in
agricultural and industrial develop
n,ent work along the lines of the sys-
tenn. They are to be used in inducing
immigration from the North. the build
ing Of factories in their district and
in other similar lines of effort.
Despite the exceedingly delicate nat
ure of their work, railroad traffic
solicitors have received salaries aver
aging $125 to $175 month, with lin
tied expense accounts. But the rail
road administration feels that COM
petition is now unnecessary. Perhaps it.
is right Whether after six or eight
months of experience it is found that
the railroads are not earning the
amount guaranteed by the government
without soma creative work. the Fed
eral powers may conclude that the
throwing of a few of these solicitors
back into the field will be desirable.
In the district east Of Chicago, where
the government is moving so much am
munition. earnings may readily take
care of the government guarantee, but
in the territory west of Chicago where
the railroads are not damned with
loads, little solicitation to increase re-
ceipts may later be deemed necessary.