The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-20
IN DEFENSE OF PASSES
W. HI. Dunnam of Chicago Answers
So-CalIed Free Pass EVIL

have never been able to figure out just
how the free pass has ever robbed any pay
passenger of that to which he is entitled
They all usually gets seats, and other ac-
commod odatians when they go after it in a
wait until the very last minute and expect
to get the cream of travel The world
today is not running on the wait till the
Does the ciothier; the coal man; the
hardware merchant; the drug dealer or any
other business man wait until the season
opens before he orders his goods? Certain
ly mott They order months ahead that
they may have supply on hand at the
proper time. Yet these same business men
howl like grey wolves if the Pullman
company does not give them lower berth
on boarding the train, or If the railroad
does not put another car in the train if it
| is little crowded so they turn two
seats together using one on which to rest
If the "Topekan," that "poor" pay pas
senger, who made such a terrible noise
over other men travelling on free trans
| necessary for them to travel had to wait
two, three or six weeks for his two, three
or five thousand dollar automobile he
soon, but having to wait two days for a
Pullman berth he has everything bad to
say about the railroads and the free
pass" evil. If he would go into the matter
deep enough, he would learn that there are
Pullman passes good for advanced reserva-
tions Of any kind.
The four ladies ont of the six that were
riding in the Pullman car on free trans
portation, as quoted in The State Journal,
I'll venture to say, were riding on free
railroad passes, but were paying the same
kind of United States money for their
Pullman berths as the travellers wife.
The dry goods clerks wife probably
does not take what clothes she wants from
the stock without paying for them. But
did You ever stop to think that she got
them at discount. Neither can it be said
that. the auto mechanics son pays the full
rental price for the car he taken from the
establishment where his father is en-
DlOyed.
don't suppose the bookkeeper at the coal
yard gets his coal for nothing. but 1 viii:
full retail price for it that che outsider
does Neither can it be said that the
gTocsTy gro f delivery man fills his, his pantry at
tice for years that most all business houses
give their employees a discount on what
they purchase from the house.
Now, If the dry goods clerks wife had
suit put away at the store until she could
raise the necessary cash with which to pay
the store and buy the suit? Not much
1t would still be saved for the clerks wife
who would get 1t at discount. So it is
in every business where the employees deal
with the firm for whom they work. The
railroad having nothing but transportation
to sell IS just as much within reason
family. fifty dollar ride once a year
as the other firm is in discounting three
times the amount to his employe.
Every sane person knows that free trans
portation hns had nothing to do with the
increase cost or transportation. for that is
nothing taking into consideration that this
increase cost has hit every concern. 1t
costs your paper more to run now than
1t did four years ago, but you don't expect
your employees to pay for the papers they
| take home TO read. Editors note: The
employes of The State Journal are not
they are, paid subscribers and without a
discount)
There is only one difference between the
old days, when clerks were paid starva-
tion wage and today, and that is, that they
| are worse off right now than ever before.
| Increased living expenses have gone above
| increased wages. And, let me tell you.
that there are thousands of clerks still
| withstanding the hundreds of per cent ad-
vance In the Co.'S of living.
About the only thing I can figure out of
the complaints Of those poor abused"
| little envious because they can't spring a
pass on the conductor when he comes
around collecting tickets. Ninety per cent
| Of the ''kickers" against railroads trans
porting their employees free are taking their
vacations on money that is paid them as
salary while they are on that pleasure
| vacation by losing the money he would
have been paid had he remained at work.
1 And even at that I know many that have
| noS had vacation for five years.
| Before making any public display OF
| their wrath against the free pass" the
! pay passenger ought to first take into con-
sideration his own seIfishuess in getting
ing for the railroads they would be the first
| TO advocate free transportation So It
seems that. all in all. there is nothing but
plaint- Let him that kicks because his
nefghbor gets something for nothing, first
| explore his own natural desires.
". H. pUNNAM.
General Secretary and Treasurer Order Of
Railway Telegraphers.