New-York tribune., 1921-10-25
The Railroader
Invites the Editor on a Trip-Hope.
Therr'll Be Nc Strike

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Your Public Ownership" in TO-
days Tribune and your editorial YES.
terday have "riled" me not l;ttl.
l have taken several New York paners
and at last settled on The Tribune as
the best and most fair; though nv
feelings are hurt they are not SO badly
injured that it will compel me to do
without my best reading.
am called an engineer, and hope.
above all things, that there will not be-
strike, but there certainly will be if
the public press generally writes as
you have these two days. IF you arc
really as ignorant of the railroader's
life and working conditions as YOU
appear it would be worth your while
TO go into the subject. Make few
trlps-not back in Pullman. hut on
the head end" Take one trim down
the mountain in the night, during an
eastern storm, when everv dron Of rain
freezes as it falls; try climbing over
slXty-five or seventy cars of coal, with
every piece. grab irons, ends and
roofs Of cars, glistening glare Of ice.
III wager you would not make the sec
ond trip or howl about our high wages.
how I'd love to have you, Mr.. Editor,
make our trip with US tomorrow. 1t
IS beautiful Indian summer weather,
the foliage in the valleys and on the
mountain slopes is wonderful. Your
blood would increase its speed. your
heart would bound now and then. your
eyes become misty and blurred with
the wondrous beauty of It all.
But do not slide driver, take out
oraw-head or run past an automatic
block signal. There is no place in the
transportation department, especially
the movement of trains, where s
botanlst or star gazer will fit in.
think Mr.. Underwood OF the Erie,
said the men wanted government
ownership because the discipline was
easy" think he is wrong If discipline
was easy" at that time why was it'
1t has puzzled me, and | am too thisk
to solve it. The same officials were
'on the job" before government con-
troll, during that period, and they are
still with US. Why was discipline
easy? Any one with a smattering Of
psychology would have known that it
would take years to overcome just a
short period of easy discipline" The
railroads had the grandest opportunity
Of their lives to build up discipline.
Why was it they let things slide?
You say "the railroad owner has
been hardened by adversely" Well.
the same can be said of thousands OF
his employees. Rents out this way
are jumping $40 to 500 q month. Coal
1900 feet from the colliery, that en-
ployees used to get for $1.4O delivered,
is now S10.95 short ton. Butter and
eggs are about war prices. Yes, we
are a very fortunate lot, and it is
strange, too, that We are part Of that
public that you are so worried about!
1t is a strange thing. too, that some
'ne has not really discovered the true
of the coal and rail corpora
lions.
This that l am doing is time thrown
away, but am going to send you tins
rash because it will not harm you in
he least and will reduce my own blood
pressure. Regards TO Mr.. Briggs, as
snow one OF his brothers. I'll not sign
ny name, s you will never have 'he
line or patience to read 10 the eno'
Nevertheless, am Tribune booster
ind wish you continued and increased
success. and wider knowledge OF tn'
ife and working conditions of the
RAILRoADER.
Carbondale, Pa, Oct. 10, 1924.