The Railway 'Boss' Who Demanded Silence
A Great Northern superintendent issued a blunt warning to employees: keep your mouths shut about the company's administration, or get out.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The following peculiar circular has been issued to employees of the Great Northern line down the Sound and posted on all bulletin boards of the line: [Post on Bulletin.] B. & S. Ry., F. & S. R.R., N. W. A. Ry., Great Northern Railway Lines, Office of Superintendent, Seattle, Wash., Dec., 1891. (Circular No. 411). To All Employees: It has come to my notice that some employees have been making uncalled for remarks regarding the officials and the administration of the Great line. I want it distinctly understood that the resignations of such parties will be gladly accepted. Employees not satisfied can receive their time checks at any time. If I find any one trying to demoralize or in any way reflect on the management of the road, the same party will be discharged at once. Harmony must prevail, otherwise discharge will follow. The sooner this is understood, the better for all concerned. Yours truly, J.S. Neff, Supt.
“If I find any one trying to demoralize or in any way reflect on the management of the road, the same party will be discharged at once. Harmony must prevail.”
This 1892 mandate reflects a century-old tension in the Pacific Northwest between corporate hegemony and the workforce. Much like today's debates over workplace speech, surveillance, and union-busting, the Great Northern’s demand for 'harmony' served as a clear warning against dissent in the company town.
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