ented unanimity
presented me as New York's candidate for president. I retired
from the contest because of the intense hostility to railroad men
in the Western States. Those States could not understand how
this hostility, which they had to railroads and everybody connected
with them, had disappeared in the great State of New York.

During my presidency the labor question was very acute and strikes,
one after another, common. The universal method of meeting the
demands of labor at that time was to have a committee of employees
or a leader present the grievances to the division superintendent
or the superintendent of motive power. These officers were
arbitrary and hostile, as the demands, if acceded to, led to an
increase of expenses which would make them unpopular with the
management. They had a difficult position. The employees often
came to the conclusion that the only way for them to compel the
attention of the higher officers and directors was to strike.

Against the judgment of my associates in the railway management
I decided to open my doors to any individual or committee of the
company. At first I was overwhelmed with petty grievances, but
when the men understood that their cases would be immediately heard
and acted upon, they decided among themselves not to bring to me
any matters unless they regarded them of vital importance. In
this way many of the former irritations, which led ultimately to
serious results, no longer appeared.

I had no trouble with labor unions, and found their representatives
in heart-to-heart talks very generally reasonable. Mr. Arthur,
chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, had many of
the qualities of a statesman. He built up his organization to be
the strongest of its kind among the labor unions. I enjoyed his
confidence and friendship for many years.

There never was but one strike on the New York Central during
my administration, and that one occurred while I was absent in
Europe. Its origin and sequel were somewhat dramatic. I had
nearly broken down by overwork, and the directors advised me to
take an absolute rest and a trip abroad.

I sent word over the line that I wanted everything settled before
leaving, and to go without care. A large committee appeared in
my office a few mornings after. To my surprise there was a
representative from every branch of the service, passenger and
freight conductors, brakemen, shopmen, yardmen, switchmen, and
so forth