NORTH SHORE BREEZE and: Reminder 15 
MELLEN AND His Mren.—TuHeE Breeze has always 
contended and still contends that the prevalent abuse of 
railroads by the public press in general is wrong and that 
the calumny heaped upon President Mellen in particular 
was unjust. ‘he mob-spirit still prevails and when an idea 
once becomes fastened upon the minds of the people, it is 
difficult to change even the most unjust convictions. It is 
a matter of no small public interest that “his” men have 
come to Mellen’s help. At a meeting of the trainmen of 
the New Haven railroad the following statement was is” 
sued: “We railroad men are as loyal as steel to the road. 
Nine-tenths of all this criticism of the railroad by the yel- 
low journals and so-called reformers is unjust and uncalled 
for. Accidents are bound to happen every now and then. 
It is impossible to avoid them, no matter what precautions 
are taken.” Of Mellen a leading officer said: “I do not 
believe there is Mellen’s peer in this country for construc- 
tive work. He is a man of the people and came up from a 
poor boy to the management of one of the greatest rail- 
road systems in the world.” Here are two side lights by 
the trainmen on the New Haven difficulties. Voluntarily 
they have paid a tribute to the executive ability of Charles 
Mellen and have assumed their fair share of the respon 
sibilities for the difficulties that have come to the road. 
Accidents are certain to occur. ‘They are inevitable and 
are sure to occur on any railroad however well regulated. 
It is impossible to eliminate all possibility of accidents oc- 
curring. It is folly to argue that poor management does 
not increase accident possibilities, but it is also equally fal- 
lacious to think that the era of operating a road without 
accidents will ever come. ‘The best that can be hoped for 
is that the public be content with slower trains and de- 
mand less luxuries and more substantial improvements up- 
on railroads. Is it not strange that the public, which, as in- 
dividual, must practice in home and in business life the 
economies which their income or business require, demand 
of the railroad comforts, improvements and speed that 
are economically impossible at the rates the law permits 
to be charged. he railroads are having hard times with 
an obdurate public. 
Tue ProcressivE Party PLatrorM is out and is an 
interesting manuscript. It has many excellent planks but 
none that may not be found incorporated in the very life 
of the Republican party. The Republican platform has all 
that is good in the Progressive platform. There is no 
longer a need for this third party. It has served its day 
and done its work for the progressive spirit has at last 
dominated both of the old line parties. Walsh’s platform 
makes the Progressive platform conservative when a com- 
parison is made. 
Wirn tHE Depicarron of a new French church in 
Salem and a new Swedish church in Beverly and the can- 
celation of a mortgage by a chapel in Montserrat, all im 
one week, progress in churchdom is evidenced. But there 
is another side also to it. It indicates the gradual change 
that is going on in our New England towns. It would 
surprise a forefather of several generations to arise and 
count the churches dedicated to the worship of God in the 
unknown tongues of these new Americans. The new 
American problem must be solved. The church can and 
is doing its part. 
Tur JeromE-T'HAw farce is sickening. Sentimentality 
approaching almost insanity characterizes the whole affair. 
It is a pity and a disgrace that the ends of justice cannot 
be meted out with greater celerity. The whole question 
should be thrown into an obscure corner in the middle of 
the daily papers. 
Tur Town oF MANCHESTER welcomes the pastor of 
the Congregational church to its citizenship and fellow- 
ship. The Congregational church is an established institu- 
tion of the town with a wide influence, with a noble past 
and with a still better future possible for it. The value of 
the church as an institution of influence cannot be under- 
estimated despite the tendency of modern times to dis- 
parage its usefulness and to underestimate its power. As 
never before, however, the age demands the balance and 
influence which the church alone, and the principles for 
which it stands, can give. In the earlier days of town 
life the pastor of a church was the leader of the com 
munity by common consent and by virtue of his position 
as the head of the church. ‘Today the minister is no 
longer the only educated man in the community, but is a 
leader of educated men and women. ‘These changes have 
been brought about largely through the successes which 
have attended the efforts in the days past by the ministers 
of religion. The terms of usefulness only have changed 
and the church is certain to have a wider influence in the 
future than in the past despite the change of conditions. 
How can it else be in the life of a community but the 
marking of an era when force takes up the leadership of a 
local church. We welcome the Rev. Mr, Hatch to the 
leadership which his important position gives him and 
commend him to the confidence of the people. He comes 
well recommended and will be a distinct gain to our com- 
munity life. 
Tue Mexicans have been characterized as_ hot: 
tempered, erratic and quick in action. This may all be 
typical of the temperamental quality of the Mexican mind, 
but when it comes to care, diplomatic skill and caution 
and wily diplomacy it looks as though the quick-tempered 
quality does not conquer Huerta. Whatever else he may 
be, he is proving himself a cautious, energetic and strategic 
politician. He has had all Europe guessing and the United 
States has been upon the anxious seat. The United 
States government does not entertain a very high apprecia’ 
tion of his service as President of the Southern Republic, 
but how can the United States do otherwise than respect 
the ability and skill with which he has kept his hold on 
affairs in Mexico and handled his “foreign” problem. 
Ambassador Wilson may not be far wrong in his advise, 
however ill-suited it may be to the government’s idea. 
MANCHESTER was beaten in three straight games of 
baseball by Beverly Farms. If there is any regret over the 
series it is that the series ended with the three games. A 
balance of winnings throwing the entire five series into the 
contest would have added two more Saturdays of pleasure 
and recreation for the two towns. A good spirit ought to 
exist between the Beverly Farms and Manchester teams. 
McNair and Culbertson did some good pitching. It is to 
be regretted that there is such a scarcity of competent 
umpires. 
TrEerE Arg Herogs, never known, who day after day 
do the work that falls to them in the line of duty. The 
nurse girl who was dragged to her death by her patient 
met a tragic and a noble death. The public little knows 
the faithful service and heroic spirit that inspires the mod- 
ern trained hospital nurse. ‘The trained nurse is a devel- 
opment of the last generation, but her place in the life of 
a community has been honorably won. 
Old age is the night of life, as night is the old age 
of the day. Still, night is full of magnificence; and, for 
many, it is more brilliant than the day—Mme. Swet- 
chine, 
