Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 226, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1913 — SILVER MEDAL FOR HIS LONG SERVICE [ARTICLE]

SILVER MEDAL FOR HIS LONG SERVICE

Agent Beam Received Medal for His More than 25 Years’ Loyal Service to Monon. Agent W. H. Beam, of the Monon railroad, is wearing with considerable pride a silver medal, presented to him last week by. President Fairfax Harrison, of the Monon railroad, for his long and loyal service on the road. All other employes who have been continuously with the road for twenty-five years received similar medals. The word “loyalty” is at the top of the medal, which is about the size of a half dollar. Around the edge of the medal are the words: “Twenty-five years continuous service.” On the back is engraved “W. H. Beam, 1885,” which was the year in which he is officially credited with beginning work for -the road, although he started a year earlier and has been with the load for 29 years with very few vacations. Accompanying the medal was the following letter from President Harrison, which is prized almost as much as the medal itself: “Dear Mr. Beam: “One of the pleasant experiences I have had on the Monon is meeting the men who have been on the dine a long time. The very fact that they have been here so long is a badge of their efficiency, and, even more, of their loyalty. I do not mean loyalty merely to any man or men who at any moment may have represented management, but, what Is even more important, loyalty to their own self-respect and sense of duty, as evidenced by pride in doing work well and efficiently. We hear much now-a-days about rights but very little about duty, and yet every man who has had any experience in the world knows that for every right there is a corresponding duty. “It is because I recognize this sense of duty in our older men that I have so much respect and regard for them and I want to show it. “I have accordingly had a number of silver medals struck so that one may be sent to every man who has seen service for twenty-five years or more on the Monon, to commemorate this service. Some of you will recognize the engine on the face of the medal. It was reproduced from a picture of the old “Admiral,” the original No. 9, which was once the pride of the road when Ranse Brown drove her. If she does not now look very big compared with the new Mikados, still she did many years of faithful service and left a good reputation like old man Ranse himself. “I am sending your medal herewith. I hope you will accept it and wear it where the youngsters can see it, and take care of it for your family to preserve as an honorable heirloom, and remember always that I am Faithfully your friend, FAIRFAX HARRISON.”