The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-12-17
By ALBERT PAYSoN TERHUNE.

But who paid for paradeS. nails. Dan-
ners, fireworks, speakers. advertise
ments, workers and watchers and all
the other million things that elected
you? The men behind that Borough
bill paid them. And they did it on the
understanding you'd sign the BILL
ain other words" remarked Ben
nett. you made bargain for me.
Well. ! can't keep it."
''Oh, III keep it all right You'll
sign that bill or you'lp'-
''Mr Horrigan." exclaimed Bennett.
controlling his temper with more and
more difficulty. You said something
Just now about our coming to show
down. This is the time for it. want
you to remember henceforth that !
wear no mans collar-yours or any
one else's-and that you can't deliver
any goods you've bargained for in my
name. II sign that bill it won't be
under your orders, but because ! think
1t right"
"Oh," laughed Horrigan, who thought
he began to see the drift Of the 9TH
er's mind, II don't hold out for that. l
don't care why you sign 1t as long as
you do sign it."
what do you think about the bill
yourself?" inquired Alwyn. do you
consider it honest"
"What do l care? It's got to be
signed, and"-
II care. And l think the bill is
fraudulent"
Getting tender in the conscience,
aren't you? Well"-
>"If you put it that way, yes. | think
this Borough bill is crooked from first
to last. But
whats the matter with it? Ain't"-
Let me explain" pursued Alwyn.
'This bill gives the Borough Street
Railway company the right to use
whatever motive power they choose to;
It gives them the right to charge five
cent fares without any transfers. In
one paragraph there's clause permit
ting them to build a subway if they
want one. BY another paragraphs con-
cessions they can build conduit and
lease it out for telephone or telegraph
wires. BY another they can do an ex-
press business. But all these provi-
sions are as nothing compared to the
fact that the bill gives the streets
above and below ground to the Bor-
ough company forever and ever-not
for q term of years. but until the end
Of the world 1t delivers that route to
the company not only for our time, but
for always, and binds US and our de-
scendants to its terms. That is the
chief outrage of the whole thing. TO
think that the
"Oh. we've got bowling reformer
in the mayors seat. have we?' scoffed
Horrigan. IF I'd known that
THE people have got man who is
trying to protect their rights and prop
erty. Here's q letter / received to-
day. You'll recognize the name Of the
capitalist who wrote 1t. You know he
Is honest as well as wise. This is his
proposition: He will pay 100000 for
that same franchise. give the city 10
per cent of the gross receipts and turn
over the whole plant to it at the end
Of fifty years. What do you think of
that"
"Its fake"
1T is a bona fde offer. He volun-
teers to deposit Sl,0O0OOO to bind the
bargain. Now. what l want to ask
you, Mr.. Horrigan. is this: II the fran
chise is worth 100000. why are you
and your faction in the board Of alder
men so anxious to give it away for
nothing?
Look herew clustered the boss.
up
81 am looking" returned Bennett
1--WE been looking deeper into it than
you realize. asked you question
sust now. I'll answer it myself In
one word-'Graft!' That Is why you
want to give away a franchise that is
worth 100000"
"Graft~ snorted Horrigan contemptu-
ously. 'The same old reformer howl!
What's your idea Of graft anyway"
Graft IL unearned increment. Money
to which the recipient has no legal or
moral right. That is'-
80. Then show me the man who
amt q CRATER! A lawyer shows his
client how to evade the law. and he
takes a fee for doing it What's that
bot graft? A magazine takes pay for
printing an advertisement its editors
know Is q fake. What's that? Graft!
When q congressman votes for an ap-
preparation because another congress
man has agreed to vote for one OF
his, what's that? Graft! When i've
thousand a year senator retires at the
end Of ten years worth million, what's
that? Graft! A police captain on $2,-
$50 a year buys yachts and country
esnues. Graft! How about the rail-
road president who gets stock free In
q corporation that ships over his road,
or the insurance man or banker who
gives or takes fat loans on fancy &C.
curites and clears 1000 per cent:
c~o$+ars oil Of ,apot Graftersi Eyery