RAILWAY MANAGERS AND EMPLOYES. 581 



them careful and discreet in exercising it. By uniform and consistent 

 dealing with misdemeanors, not only is discipline preserved, but the 

 culprits and all others concerned are made to understand that justice 

 only will be administered, while harsh criticism and complaints of in- 

 justice receive no sympathy ; the standard of service is elevated and 

 its efficiency increased ; and all fear of personally incurring the dis- 

 pleasure of superior officials, and the consequent currying of favor 

 generally to the company's disadvantage are obviated. 



Railroad companies not only need men sound in body, but in this 

 country they frequently need the moral and political support of their 

 employes. This, a mere wage quid pro quo will never develop. Why 

 not, in addition, identify the interests of their employes with their 

 own, either by that most potent of all bonds, pecuniary advantage, 

 or otherwise engender personal devotion to those officials who are 

 responsible for the conduct of the service ? 



As a rule the operatives of railroads reside in those counties and 

 districts in which they work, and are more or less influential political 

 factors. "With us majorities rule, and as employes necessarily out- 

 number their employers, who are constantly compelled to seek conces- 

 sions from political bodies, therefore, for their own welfare and safety, 

 the latter should pursue such a policy as will enable them to count 

 upon the support and friendship of their masters. 



Mr. Charles Francis Adams, Jr., some years ago published in " The 

 Nation " a communication from a correspondent who concluded some 

 suggestions on promoting identity of interests between railroad man- 

 agers and operatives with the following language : " The railroad man 

 who makes suggestions of this character from the Western end of the 

 line renders himself liable to have his ideas ranked as ' Utopian,' ' vis- 

 ionary,' etc. I have, however, been through the mill, and believe that 

 a little attention to these matters would give our owners a more zealous 

 and earnest service ; would foster and preserve a higher esprit de corps; 

 would develop a strong attachment to the line and its owners ; would 

 remove the possibility of strikes and riots ; and would lead to the 

 securing of a better grade of men, which means increased efficiency and 

 increased net earnings ; and all this can be secured at small cost and 

 with little trouble to the local management." 



That such views are not "Utopian" is proved by the fact that 

 many of the principal English and Continental railway companies 

 have on various occasions, and with considerable expenditure of time 

 and money, inaugurated for their employes (and devoted large sums to 

 sustaining) benevolent societies for promoting one or more of the ob- 

 jects the writer quoted outlined. Such action by financiers and railroad 

 directors, whose keen business perceptions, stimulated by close compe- 

 tition, are not apt to be misdirected or clouded by philanthropical or 

 sentimental ideas, shows how important they regard the cultivation of 

 bonds of sympathy and fellowship with their armies of operatives 



