The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-23
WHEN A MAN Is NOT A MAN

Walters entered. He was one of the
great railway presidents, was univer-
sally regarded as a power, though l.. OF
course. knew that he. like so many
other presidents of railways. of indi
vlduaf corporations, of banks, of in
Surance companies. and high political
oIilclals in cities. states and the ma
tlon, was little more than a f~igurehead
put up and used by the inside financial
ring. AS he shifted from leg to lav
holding his hat and trying to steadv
ms twitching upper lip. he looked as
one OF his smallest section bosses would
have looked, if called up for a wigging.
Roebuck shook hands cordially with
nm responded to his glance
at me With: Blackjack is practically
in our directory We all sat, then Roe
DUCK began in his kindliest tone:
We have decided. Walters, that we
must give your place to a stronger
man. Your gross receipts, outside of
eoai. nave fallen rapidly and steadily
for the past three quarters. You we're
put into the presidency to bring them
up. They have shown no change he
yond h might have beer expected
IN the natural fluctuations of freight.
we calculated on resuming dividends
a year ago. We have barely beer able
10 meet the interest on our bonds"
But, Mr.. Roebuck," pleaded Wal
ters, you doubled the bonded indebted
ness OF the road just before / took
charge" ~
The money went into improvements.
INTO increasing Your facilities. did it
not" inquired Roebucli, his raw as
soft as q playful tigers.
Part of 1t" said Walters. "But you
remember the -reorganlzlng syndicate
sos tlVe millions, and Their the con-
tracts for the new work had to be Civ
en- TO construction companies in which
directors of the road We're silent part
lerS. lh6n 1haN- n ,n frtA-~-t--1 " -
supply companies from which 1 must
buy: You know what all that means
MIR, Roebuck."
No doubt" said Roebuclx, still
smooth and soft. But if there was
waste You should have reported"
70 Wham? demanded Walters.
Every one of our directors. incl1iding
Yourself, Mr.. Roebuek, is a stockholder
"a large stockholder-in one or more
of those companies"
Have You proof of this, Walte,so"
asked Roebuck, looking profoundly
shocked. It's a very grave Charge
criminal charge"
Proof. said Walters. You know
how that is. The real books of ali hfs
companies are kept in the memories
OF the dlrectors-and mighty treacher-
Gus memories they are" This with q
nervous laugh. AS for the holdings of
directors in construction and supply
companles-most of those holdings are
IN other names-all of them are dis
guised where the connection is direct"
lsoeouck shook his head sadly. "You
admit, then, that you have allowed
millions of the roads money to be
wasted that you made no complaint,
no eliore 70 stop the waste; and your
only defense is hat you suspect the
directors of fraud. And YOU accuse
them to excuse yourself-accusa tbar,
WIN no proof. We're you in any Of
those companies, Walters?"
No" he said, his eyes shifting.
face grew stern. you
bought s2o0,ooo of the last issue of
government bonds. they tell me, with
your two years profits from the West
ern Hallway Construction mpan
Il bought no bonds" clustered WAL
ters. WHAT money | have / made ont
OF speculating in the stock of my road
on legitimate inside information."
pursued Roebuck.
Walters redeemed, oolled STRAIGHT 1T
Roebuck without speaking.
buck. f>oe-
i saw everybody everybody
thought l might as we'll take nv share
It's part of the business. Then he
added cynically: That's the way II is
nowadays. The lower ones see the
l,isIer ones aking off. and they rake
OH, too-doWnt to conductors and brake
men. We caught some trackwaikers in
a a ,s consptracy to dispose of the dis
He laughed. we Jailed them"
N you can show that any director
mas k anything that did not belong
to him, if you ear show that a sinalee
you let to a con
slruc.lon or a supply company
let to yourself-of them know
nothing, suspect much-if you can !
show one Instance of these criminal
doings. Mr.. Walters, 1 shall back Won
up With all my power in prosecution"
OF course can't snow it," cried
Walters. II l tried, wouldn't they ruin
and disgrace me, perhaps send me to
the penitentiary? Wasn't l the one
that passed on and signed their con-
tracts? And wouldn't they-wouldn't
you, Mr.. Roebuck-have fred me If 7
had refused to sign?"
(Continued Next Week.0
- Mo- nal, 3, Ea,.I-.r.