Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-02-25
PAN-ELECTRlCISM.
THE PAN-ELECTRICS MAN.
Senator Garland the Most Attractive
Bait.

When the Pan Electric spectators,
with Senator Garland as their leading
law authority and most attractive bait,
were fishing for gudgeons, they tried to
sell stock-stock like that which Senator
Garland owned and still owns bushels of
by advertising that the so called Rog'
ers telephone did not infringe the Bell
patent. One of the agents of the Pan
Electric concern addressed to Senator
Garland a letter, in which he represented
himself as an investor desiring legal
opinion on this question of infringement.
He got it the very next day from Mr..
Garland. who declared that he had look
ed up the authorities and found them to
be more than enough to insure the Pan
L ectric telephone from any charge Of
infringement of the Bell telephone" Il
am clearly of the opinion - Mr.. Garland
wrote, "that the Pan Electric named by
you in no wise infringes the Bell tele-
phone"
On the strength of this opinion the
spectators did actually sell some stock
and some local rights. Alongside of Sen
ator Garland's opinion, they advertised
to the innocent and confding that they
had sold over two million dollars worth.
We find in the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette OF last Saturday letter which
shows how useful Mr.. Garland's first
opinion on the infringement question has
proved to the persons directly engaged in
pushing Pan Electric. 1t is sample
case from small Southern city. Mr.
William Gredner. citizen of Birming,
ham. Alabama, writes under date of Feb
ruary IL:
"As the Pan Electric Telephone Com.
pany has lately succeeded in absorbing
$4,000 out of our people in this town, l
thought the facts might interest the pub
lie.
mot long ago Mr. Upshur, who is the
chief clerk in the Indian Bureau under
Mr.. Atkins, Indian Commissioner, came
to Birmingham, and, upon the strength
of letters written by Attorney-General
Garland and United States Senator Har
ris, which he circulated extensively
around, he induced many of our best ci-
tizens to purchase the right TO operate
the Pan. Electric telephone in this county.
2 "These letters stated, in effect, that
parties having money could safely invest
in the Pan Electric Company as its pat
ent was sound in every way, and would
h.,. ta.N nl hut l,n in npnHi int
that would arise between ii and the Bell
telephone patent. Copies of these letters
can easily be procured, as they were sent
to all the surrounding towns in the hope
that they would have the same effect on
other people that they had on our own
citizens
But when Attorney. General Garland S
wildcat company came to apply to the
Department of Justice for help in break
ing down the Bell patent, part of their
case was the sworn statement that if the
Bell patent was good, the Pan Electric
telephone did infringe. 1--WE admit, !"
they say in the evidence they submitted
to Secretary Lamar, that if the Bell pat.
ents are held valid, we most certainly do
infringe"
Bear this in mind. Before events have
put Mr.. Garland in position to assist
his partners in attacking the Bell Compa.
ny, the Pan Electric tries to sell its
worthless stock on the pretence that there
is no conflict between the alleged inven-
ton of Rogers and the Bell patents.
But after the Pan Electric's lawyer
and director is established in the Depart.
ment of Justice, and the greatness of the
opportunity dawns upon the minds of his
partner-speculatOrs they also try to sell
the same stock on the pretence that al
though the two inventions do conflict
the power of the United States Govern
ment will be entitled through Director
Garland's influence to break down Bel
and set up Pan Electric!
And the Attorney General keeps hi'
stock and allows his active partners tC
put his name where it will do the mos
good, by using it in whatever way seems
most likely to give tlctitions value to the
printed rubbish in which he has so hug,
a stake.
AS an eminent lawyer and Senator
who furnishes an opinion that there is ne
infringement of existing rights, again az
Cabinet officer whose silent influence
ranges the Department of Justice on the
side of the spectators in order to defenC
an acknowledged infringement, he ha
been and is the mainstay of the peddler
of Pan Electric. Either way, so long a
the stock inis market. 1t was not j
Harris Rogers discoveries in the labra
tory on Parthenon Heights, but the eide
Rogers discovery of Garland in th
the United States Senate, that constitutes
the real capital of this confidence enter
prise. And Mr.. Garland keeps his stock
and at the same time keeps the office tha
is a public trust.
Is there still any person who does mo-
understand how heavy load President
Cleveland s Administration is at this mo
ment carrying? Mr. Garland, perhaps
feels that he can afford to keep his offic
and brave public opinion for the sake o
possible pecuniary gains In the COLDER
future. How long can Demo cratic re
form Administration afford to keep Gal
land2-N Y. San, DEM.