The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-08-24
McAD0O ORDERS COURTESY

To all employees In the railroad
Jeryice in the United States:
\Complaints have reached me from
time to time that employees are not
treating the public with as much con-
sideration and courtesy under Gov
eminent control of the railroads as
under private control. do not know
how much courtesy was accorded the
public under private control. and
have mo- basis, therefore,for accu-
rate comparison. hope, however,
that the reports OF discourtesy under
Government administration OF the
railroads are incorrect, or that they
are at least confined to q relatively
few cases. Whatever may be the
merits OF these complaints, they
draw attention to a question which
is OF the utmost Importance In the
management OF the railroads.
For many years It was popularity
believed that the public be damned"
policy was the policy OF the railroads
under private control. Such a policy
is indefensibie either under private
control or under Government con-
troll. 1t would be particularly indie
feasible under public control when
railroad employees are the direct
servants OF the public. "The public
Ibe damned" policy will in no circum-
stances be tolerated on the railroads
under Government control. Every
employee OF the railroad should take
pride in serving the public courteous
ly and efficiently. Courtesy costs
nothing and when dispensed. 1t makes
friends OF the public and adds to the
self-respect OF the employee.
My attention has also been called
TO the fact that employees have some
times offered as an excuse for their
own shortcomings, or as justification
for delayed trains or other difficulties
the statement that "Uncle Sam is
running the railroads now" or These
are McAdoo's orders" etc. Nothing
could be more reprehensible than
statements OF this character, and
nothing could be more hurtful to the
success OF the Railroad Administra-
ton or to the welfare OF railroad
employees themselves. No doubt,
those who have made them have
done so thoughtlessly in most in
stances, but the harm is just as
great IL thing of this sort is done
thoughtlessly as II 1t is done dellber-
ateiy.
There are many people who for
partisan or selfish purposes wish
/, Government operation OF the rail-
roads to be failure. Every en-
ployee who is discourteous to the
public or makes excuses or statements
OF the kind / have described. is help
ing these partisan or selfish interests
to discredit Government control OF
railroad employees were largely in
creased, involving an addition TO
railroad operating expenses OF more
than s475,O00,O0 per annum. In or
der to meet this increase, the public
has been called upon to pay largely
increased passenger and freight
rates. The people have accepted
this new burden cheerfully and pat
riotically The least that every en-
ployee can do in return is to serve the
public courteously, faithfully and eff
GENTLY.
A great responsibility and duty
rest upon the railroad employees OF
the United States. Upon their loyal
ty, efficiency and patriotism depends
in large part Americas success and
the overthrow OF the kaiser and all
that he represents. Let us not fail
to measure up to our duty, and to the
Just demand OF the public that rail-
road service shall not only be eff
cient, but that 1t shall always be
courteously administered.
w. j. McADO0,
nf.ooto. Nan ~ Railroads