e to be late at
dinner. These speeches were made several times a week, and mainly
at banquets on closing of the sessions of conventions of trade
organizations of the country. The reciprocal favors and friendship
of these delegates transferred to the New York Central a large
amount of competitive business.

While I was active in politics I issued strict orders that every
employee should have the same liberty, and that any attempt on
the part of their superior officers to influence or direct the
political action of a subordinate would be cause for dismissal.
This became so well known that the following incident, which was
not uncommon, will show the result.

As I was taking the train the morning after having made a political
speech at Utica, the yardmaster, an Irishman, greeted me very
cordially and then said: "We were all up to hear ye last night,
boss, but this year we are agin ye."

The position which this activity gave me in my own party, and the
fact that, unlike most employers, I protected the employees in
their liberty and political action, gave me immense help in
protecting the company from raids and raiders.

We had a restaurant in the station at Utica which had deteriorated.
The situation was called to my attention in order to have the evils
corrected by the receipt of the following letter from an indignant
passenger: "Dear Mr. President: You are the finest after-dinner
speaker in the world. I would give a great deal to hear the speech
you would make after you had dined in the restaurant in your
station at Utica."

After thirteen years of service as president I was elected chairman of
the board of directors. Mr. Samuel R. Callaway succeeded me as
president, and on his resignation was succeeded by Mr. William H. Newman,
and upon his resignation Mr. W. C. Brown became president.
Following Mr. Brown, Mr. Alfred H. Smith was elected and is still
in office. All these officers were able and did excellent service,
but I want to pay special tribute to Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith is one of the ablest operating officers of his time.
When the United States Government took over the railroads he was
made regional director of the government for railroads in this
territory. He received the highest commendation from the government
and from the owners of the railroads for the admirable way in
which he had maintained them and their efficiency during the
government control.

On the surrender of the railroads by the g