Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-09-23

=
parS- osS on power. wnica had been
out of power SO long that It 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 wise man. indeed a genius. who
finds 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 the
enterprise OF the Gotham Freight
Traction company lay in 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 1t would have
been slipped through the board OF
aldermen, signed by the mayor, and
that would have been all.
So sure did the company feel Of its
ground. so confident were its members
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
they wanted in defiance of any public
sentiment whatsoever.
Gornly had made one blunder; but
like a brilliant soldier he had sue
ceeded in turning it to his advantage.
One advertisement was succeeded by
another The Gotham Freight Trac-
ton company was made the subject of
scathing criticism and bitter attack
of which the Sachem society and the
party in power came in for large
share. And men everywhere began
asking what was to be done about It,
In previous campaigns the party out
of power had been led by a series of
forlorn hopes. men enthusiastic In
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 to
be made about him; his business
methods were investigated; his re-
sources were discussed; his character
was analysed; his career made the
subject of study From being merely
a name attached to familiar institu-
ton, he became within one month one
of the great personalities Of New
York The situation was intoxicating.
Incidentally, he did not lose in the
estimation of Miss Haldane by this
exploitation of himself, which he had
so cleverly managed that no one
dreamed It was due to his own motion.
Even in those exclusive circles in
which Miss Haldane moved. which are
ordinarily Indifferent to any happen
ings on this side Of the terrestrial
sphere, some account of Gormly and
his doings, penetrated. That he was
rich and bachelor were the most in
teresting facts which sp?easd to this
set. Men and women there began to
inquire as to who he was. 1t was Miss
Haldane's privilege and pleasure to
enlighten them so far as she could,
without betraying the nature of their
confidential relation.
There were several papers on the
side of the administration, which were
owned and controlled by the party in
power, that would have been glad
indeed to have discredited Gormly;
but the closest scrutiny revealed moth
ing in his life that could be used for
that purpose. Where he had come
from was not known: but for the last
quarter of century at least his
course had been traced with consid-
cradle accuracy, and indeed there was
little of it that was not discovered
and disclosed to the eager public. He
was quite willing to talk about the
Gotham Freight Traction company or
any matter Of public moment, but for
the rest he was unshakably silent. His
early past, therefore, was mystery;