Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-05

high and noble point Of view. In which
self-interest took secondary position.
Therefore, late in November no
came boldly out In the open. and over
his own name vigorously attacked the
Gotham Freight Traction company.
He did 1t in unique way. too. In
stead Of the full page advertisement
OF Gormly's store which appeared
simultaneously in all the great Aailies.
there was presented one morning IN
clear. direct, businesslike English q
statement Of the whole situation ex-
aetly al 1t was. There were NO threats.
no menaces, no limitations Of any fu-
ture plan or purpose; just a blunt
statement Of facts printed in large
double-leaded type. and signed with
the familiar facsimile Of his now IA
nous autograph.
The thing was an instant sensation.
The newspapers took it up. Other
merchants. freighters, and shippers
were interviewed, and a case was Ia.
stantly made out against the Gotham
Freight Traction company which
would have shaken less ponderous,
less thick-skinned, less Indifferent or.
ganization to pieces. Even the author
tiles were interviewed. and they shed
hypocritical tears over the unfortunate
trickery by which the public had been
buncoed out Of its legitimate rights,
but they took occasion at the same
time to point out that there was moth
Ing whatever to be done about It.
The party in power was one that
had long dominated the metropolis.
To be sure It gave the metropolis q
fairly good government: but the peo-
pie paid over and over again. They
wero robbed shamelessly right and
thing was rendered them, what they
got was no quid pro quo for the fright
full extravaganza Of the adnrinistra-
ton. Graft abounded everywhere. The
party out of power, which had been
out Of power SO long that 1t had per-
force become virtuous, did not hest
tate to point out the dreadful state Of
affairs to all who would listen; but its
efforts had so far been unavailing, and
the party in power remained there be.
cause of its so doing.
Now the Gotham Freight Traction
company had its weak point. Things
that depend upon the collision OF SO
many INSCRIPTIONS men, not to say
villains. usually have a weak point.
It Is q wise man, indeed a genius, who
Ands out these things and assails the
organization thereat. The first prin-
.ciple Of good soldering is to oppose
to your adversary's weak point your
own strongest. The weak point in TIE
enterprise of the Gotham Freight
Traction company lay in a certain link
vital to the continuance of the care
fully devised system: the franchise of
which was about to run out.
Few people knew that the franchise
was to expire, and in the ordinary
course nothing would have happened.
An ordinance renewing it would have
been slipped through the board of
aldermen. signed by the mayor, ard
that would have been all.
So sure did tho company feel Of ita
ground, so confident were its membera
that Gormly and his fellow victims
would see the necessity Of paying
without delay. that they had never
contemplated this publicity and never
imagined they would have to face this
bitter and determined attack upon
their franchises and upon their meth
DDS. They knew, Of course. that they
held the aldermen in their hands:
that in their close alliance with the
sachem society, the organization that
ran things, they could pass anything
thcy wanted in defiance Of any public
sentiment whatsoever.
Gormly had made one blunder; but
like brilliant soldier he had sue
ceeded in turning 1t to his advantage.
C.c advertisement was succeeded by
another. The Gotham Freight Trac-
ton company was made the subject of
scething criticism and bitter attack
of which the Sachem society and the
party In power came in for a large
share. And men everywhere began
asking what was to be done about 1T.
In previous campaigns the party out
of power had been led by a series of
forlorn hopes. men enthusiastic liz
their devotion to the cause of reform
and not noted for much of anything
else. The leaders of the outs took no.
tice Of Gormly. Inquiries began tn
be made about him; his business
methods were investigated: his re-