May-June, 1958 - Milwaukee Road Archive

NEW OPTIMISM MARKS
GENERAL STAFF MEETING
CONSIDERING the kind of first quarter it
had been for The Milwaukee Road and
for business generally, the most significant
single thing about this year's general
staff meeting was the enthusiasm it
created. A new optimism began to show
during the traffic department meeting on
Monday, May 19. By mid-morning the
next day, at the joint operating-traffic
meeting, it started running through the
crowd like a rumor of good news. By
the end of the day it was an established
fact which set the tone for a productive
get-together of the Road's principal op-
"There is no limit to what The Milwaukee Road can do if every
man recognizes his responsibility to the work expected of him."
-Chairman Leo T. Crowley
"We are down about 10 per cent below 1957 in our carload·
ings, but this is by comparison with an unusually good year.
We've got to roll with the times. • .. There are good days
ahead." -President William J. Quinn
"Let us frankly face the fact that in today's transportation mar·
ket it will take more than just good intentions and routine calls
on business men to secure the necessary volume of traffic."
-Vice President W. W. Kremer
"We want you traffic men and supervisors in all departments to spring
your ideas on us. The operating department will do its very best to mali:e
practical use of them." -Vice President F. G. NlcGinn
President Quinn greets Directors J. Patrick Lannan and Walter J. Cummings,
(left to right, center), as they arrive with Chairman Crowley for the afternoon
session of the joint meeting. Mr. Lannan is chairman of the executive committee
of the board of directors, and Mr. Cummings is chairman of the finance committee.
4
eraling department supervIsors the fol.
lowing day.
leo. T. Crowley, chairman of the
board of directors, and the first speaker
introduced by President Quinn, sounded
the keynote of the joint meeting.
"You have on this ::ailroad a new
president," he said, "and he is young,
intelligent and vigorous. There is noth.
ing small about him. In the traffic de.
partment you have a man who is capable
of inspiring you. In Mr. Quinn and Mr.
Kremer you have men who are sym.
pathetic and who can solve your prob­
Jems. In the operating department Bill
Whalen has retired after 52 years of
service, and we have lost a good operating
man, but Mr. McGinn, who succeeds
Mr. Whalen, is also a capable,
practical operating man. We have promoted
men all along the line, and this
creates good morale. We have on this
railroad a great many good, fine, loyal
people."
Mr. Crowley commented on the respect
he has always had for salesmen
with imagination, and his appreciation
of the fact that the company owes an
obligation to salesmen and to all em.
ployes with long years of service, just as
those individuals owe an obligation of
loyalty to the railroad.
"1 believe the most essential thing in
any man's life is security of employment,
and it is Our intention to provide
that security to the greatest degree possible."
President 'Quinn next addressed the
group, explaining that the purpose ot the
meeting was to provide an opportunity
for the men present, numbering approximately
200, to get better acquainted
with each other and with the
reasons underlying company policies.
Mr. Quinn commented on the state of
the railroad's business, and his reasons
for feeling optimistic regarding future
prospects. Among the reasons which he
( Continued on pa{Je 6)
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