The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-28

the value Of It's stock would be re.
duced, its dividends cut down, and the
income Of those who hold large and
controlling interests in that corpora
tion would thus be disadvantageously
affected.
The Above Statement Tells the story.
Now can you see why John r. Nc
Lean, the chief owner in the Wash
ington Gas company, whose property
and plant are valued at $5,000,000 Is
anxious to become a member of one OF
the legislative bodies which determine
the price of gas in the District Of Co.
lumbia and determines whether the
present monopoly. which he holds in
his individual grasp, shall be indef1n-
itely continued, and at the present ex-
horbitant rates or perhaps increased
to rates even more exhorbitant?
McLean's Enormous Washington Monop-
oily Described.
The history of John r. McLean's
ownership in and control Of the gas
company, and the methods by which
he has controlled legislation affecting
it are interesting, If not startling. Mr..
Mclean, as everybody knows, has
been a resident Of Washington for
dozen years or so. Living there.
therefore, his commercial instinct
taught him to seek local outlet for
his spare capital. The Enquirer"
runs ITSELF Telegraph tolls are cheap,
and it is easy to manage an establish
ed newspaper from distance. His
just as the elder Bennett founded that
of the New York Herald, and now
James Gordon Bennett spends his
days in Paris, and runs the Herald by
cable, just as John does in Washing
ton, where he runs his Ohio paper by
long distance phone. Mr.. Mclean di-
verts himself, meantime, by managing
the Washington Gas Light company,
which he purchased several years ago,
as that Quiet for his stored up cash
that was itching for return. Incident
ally this investment gives him an op-
portunity to play the prettiest game
of lobbying that has ever been worked
in Washington. Part Of this play is
self-defense, and part Of it is pure fun.
Mr. Mclean makes the combination in
a mastery manner.
McLean's Washington Lobby.
How did he do it? Did he organize
a lobby and attack congress front and
rear, as do the ordinary wire pullers
in Washington? BY not means. That
is not Mr.. McLean's style. He went
about the matter from a different
standpoint. He did not regard the
representatives and senators as so
many capitalists, to be bought at such
a price per head. To be sure, there
are senators and representatives who
can be thus bought. And they are
bought often, but not as frequently
now as heretofore. Mr.. Mclean cul-
tivated the social side of the situation
He ignored the common methods and
went in for dinners and receptions. He
Is a man with a certain amount of
winning manner. He can put up a
good bluff, can make a first class plea
on the ground of good fellowship, and
is diplomat when he cares to be. But
it is not to be SUPPOSED that he neg
lected to go through the PAGES of an
ordinary lobby. He had the capitol
filled with his agents and representa-
tives. His general gas works mana
ger, smooth-visaged, unctuous-voiced
John Leetch, whose demeanor dispels
every thought of grasping corpora
al in ho 6
whenever gas was mentioned. Then
there was Dan McConville. He did
not do nue.. open work at the capitol,
but he picked up the loose ends Of the
lobbying here and there, and was first
rate for work among the representa-
tives who showed a disposition to look
at the gas company's figures too close
ly. McConville is as smooth in his
way as Leetch. This combination was
hard to beat. 1t was as serviceable q
machine as any political boss ever
built up in state. It mingled sane
tity, personal prestige, popula. .lry, So
ciability and wealth in most effective
fashion. Mr.. McLean's dinners are
elaborate and costly. They are at.
tractive to the average representative
whose boarding house fare puts a pre-
MUM on good viands and choice
| wines.
Other Devious Ways Described.
But other things are needed. Some
senators there were who could moi
be influenced thus, and who still show.
ed disposition to haggle over the SC
per cent. dividends, and tie watered
stock. One of these there was, mem
ber of the senate District committee
still member and with a circle OF
votes in the senate personally conduct.
ed by him. This senator had a young
son. This was convenient. Mr.. Me
Lean found niche In the gas Office
for this senatorial scion, and gave him
good salary. Another senator, also
member'of the District committee