Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-11
, REVOLVING CHAIR OFFICIALS

LII Tic ScdCllc n OSC-lnCcll1Eef1cer Arthur RflS
bane writes:
In twelve months the Pennsylvania railroad
has carried 5 100000 passengers without kill
ing one OF them. A fine record. The railroad
is praised, deserves it. But the railroad man.
ayers well know that the safety is not due to Of
fclals sitting in revolving chairs or to fnanciers
sitting beside tickers, that run and own the rail
roads. =
The fact that 152, 900, 900 Americans travel
ed without loss of life on one railroad in one
yeaI means THAT THE WORKMEN ON
THE RAILROAD ARE GOOD WORKMEN.
Engineers understand their business, switch
men, signalmen; those that walk the tracks look
ing for loose spikes or rails, telegraphers, and all
the others are faithful men.
They deserve the praise, and the owners
OF railroads should be careful how they annoy
them, setting up artificial outside repair shops
to dodge union wages and careful how they in
troduce incompetent "scabs' to take the places
of these good men. One hundred and fifty two
million passengers and not one killed in one pear
means GOOD WORKMANSHIP and such
workmanship should be we'll paid.
Very true, Mr.. Brisbane. The men who have
contributed to the making of such a record have
given the public good service, and are entitled to
recognition of their efforts by their immediate EN-.
ployers, and by the public. They are entitled to good
pay and good working conditions, just as are all
other persons who work faithfully and honestly.
They. are not entitled, any more than any other men
are, to a monopoly of the occupation which they
have chosen, or to the privilege Of establishing their
own terms without reference to the interests OF
other members of the community. d
And, while all this is true, it may be pointed out
that others thar'the met, engaged in the mechanical
work OF the. roads have had something to do with
the results. Grant all that is said of the faithful
ness, and capacity of the men in these various
groups, there are people who spend a good deal Of
their time in revolving chairs who have also had
something to do with the results. Let the men who
now manage the Pennsylvania railroad, whose
work is done in offices, who, if you please, have soft
hands and wear white collars, be replaced BY men
less conscientious and less capable, and immediately
the physical condition of the road and it's equipment
will begin to deteriorate and the morale of it's work
ing force to go to the dogs. No large working force
ever existed that could operate successfully of itself.
No matter how high the character of it's personnel, it
must be organized, directed, and inspired. and the
men who perform that work on a great railway
system have no time either to handle throttles or
drive spikes. They are the revolving chair men
who are so frequently spoken of with contempt or
who are regarded with hatred as men in soft places,
drawing big pay for the work that other men per
form.
Without competent and trustworthy sailors the
ship cannot make a successful voyage. But without
a captain who understands his job and is equal to it
she will never make port at all.