The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1908-11-12
IF you put 1t that way, yes. ! think
this Borough bill Is crooked from hrst

IF you put it that way. yes. think
this Borough bill Is crooked from hrst
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
whntever motive power they choose to.
1t 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 II they
want one. ByanOther paragraphs con-
cessions they can build a conduit and
lease IL 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-snot
for 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"1s the
chief outrage of the whole thing. To
think that the
"Oh. we've got Il bowling refOrmer
In the mayors seat. have we" scoffed
HOrrigan. IF Id known that
1.-THE people have got a man who is
trying to protect their rights and prop
erty. Here's letter received to-
| day. You'll recognize the name of the
capitalist who wrote 1t. You know he
Is honest as we'll as wise. This is his
propositions: He viii pay 81 100000 for
that same franchise. give the city 10
per cent of the gross receipts ana turn
over the whole plant to 1t ut the end
Of fifty years. What d0'you think Of
that." II
ITS fake"
ut is a bona fide offer. He vOlun-
teers to deposit 81 OO0O 600 to bind the
bargain. Now, what want to ask
your. Mr.. Horrigah. is this: II the fran
chise is worth $2.OOOOOO. why are you
and your faction in the board of alder
men SO anxious to give 1t away for
nothing?"
Look herev clustered the boss.
"I"- 80. '--'
81 am looking" returned Bennett.
1--WE been looking deeper into it than
! you realize. asked you question
just now. I'll answer 1t myself In
one word-'Graft. That Is why you
want to give away a franchise that Is
worth 100000"
Craft" snOrted HOrrigan contemptu-
ously. 1.-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 CRATER! A lawyer shows bis
client how to evade the law. and he
takes fee for doing IT.. What's that
but graft? "a magazine takes pay for
: printing an advertisement its editors
know Is fake, What's that?' Graft
When congressman votes for an ap-
preparation because another congress.
man has agreed to vote for one OF
! his. what's that? Graft! When a five
thousand a year senator retires at the
end Of ten years worth million, whats
that? Graft! A police captain on S.
$50 year buys yachts 'Md country
/. estates. Graft! How about the rail-
road president who gets stock free In
! n corporation that ships over his road
or the insurance man or banker who
:. gives or takes fat loans ON fancy Sc
! curities and clears 1000 per cent.
3 CRITTERS. all Of ZEN. .Grafters. Every
: one CRAFTS who can or who isn't too
t stupid. Show me man who doesn'
! graft and I'll show you fool. Presen
Y company not excepted"
r. ''Chat's where you're wrong" return
ed Alywn. ignoring the slur and speak
Q ing with a judicial quiet oddly at con
< trast with the boss .yehemence. .Tht
man who said Honesty is the best pol
t ley knew what he was talking about
l. sItTpays best not only hereafter. ,bn
l. here as well. Why did Missouri choos,
8 Folk for governor? Because in spit
of his faults he IL honest Why wa
Il La Toilette, sent to the senate from
u Wisconsin? Because. fanlts and all, b.
was honest. Why did the people O
e this country make Roosevelt their pres
ident?~ We're they blind to his fault
q and ifoibles? No. but they knew h
was honest! ] am honest. This, bill
3, isn't. That is why l won't sign it."
You won't eh?" roared Horrigar