The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-01-10

tahe all lHteresJ III politics.. Inc trutT, III u
were known, probably is that they were pre-
pairing to do the Missouri Pacific up, that is
the Burlington and Sam Cook, in order to
beat Phelps that Phelps thereupon egged
on Cardwell that at the dangerous stage
Sam Cook proposed an armistice it was ac-
cepted, and that Cook, the Missouri Pacific,
and Dockery t%hereupon put up the money,
and Cardwell being under orders from Phelps
quit for u consideration. The following is
the 1Ierald's version
''The intereat which w. II. Phelps
took in securing % settlement of the Card
well case has been the subject of no little
discussion among men who know the colonel
well. Phelps is not u man who changes
tack often, and he did it so suddenly in the
Cardwell case and with such rare complet-
Early in the fight Phelps thought it Il great
joke on his enemies in the Democratic party.
About the time Sam b. Cook testified he
changed his mind suddenly and regarded the
case rs Il terrible calamity. Such II change
of heart in a man who has seen rs much of
'1' W.T. ~ az u ItlI'N dlENtN lIiN u IONtI-
ful influence worked upon him. That IN
%Iluence. according to a story told among the
men who deal with large corporations. was
no more or less than u positive order from
George j. Gould head of the Missouri Pa
ellie system. Mr.. Gould spoke very plainly
if the story that has been told several times
is true.
\ few nights ago two railroad attorneys
and a well-known politician were in the lob
by of the southern Hotel in st. Louis to-
gethcr. They were discussing the strange
change of heart experienced by Colonel
Phelps, when one of the party told this
story:
II don't suppose Cochran will tell it
and | know Phelps won't, but u little call
ing down by George Gould was the real
%scource of Phelps action. When the Card
well case began to get real interesting some
body sent word TO Gould that Phelps was
making things hot for the State Board of
Equalization and ought to he called off.
OF course, George Gould knew what that
meant and he did not loose any time in get
ting in communication with Cochran.
Gould told Cochran that the Missouri
Pacific had too many miles of railroad in
Missouri TO have anything to do with n
move that made the men who assess rail-
roads unhappy. lie thought Phelps ought
to sever his connection with the Missouri
Pacific before engaging in any enterprise
that might cause the assessment of their
railroad to he greatly increased. Well,
Cochran passed the word along TO Phelps
and Phelps saw the error of his ways Just as
suddenly and completely rs Saul of Tarsus
did when he saw the light on the memorable
trip to Damascus. lie turned round in the
middle of the road and started in to help his
old friends. Since then he has gone on the
theory that he was the man most likely to
suffer if anyone was going to be hurt. lie
did more trotting and more talking than all
the rest put together. OF course, Cochran
isn't telling this from the roofs of houses,
but ! am told that it is an absolutely true
story"
The Cochran referred to is Alex NJ.
Cochran, general solicitor of the Missouri
Pacific. lie ranks both Phelps and Martin
Clardy.
The st. Louis story is one which people
who are interested are not likely to talk
about. Mr.. Gould won't confirm it and the
rest are willing to talk about something else.