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

"My dear sir!" said Haldane gently.
not turning hair before this astound-
ing declaration. Are you aware that
the bonds Of the Gotham Freight Trac.
ton company are two hundred and
fifty million dollars: that stock for
twice as much more has been issued
and sold and Is already at premium:
that It is in the enjoyment OF ninety
nine.year franchise with the privilege
of renewal; that its promoters IN
clude some Of the ablest fnanciers in
the city?"
Much of what you say is matter
of public notoriety. You have given
me. however, some information that
I did not possess and which is Of val
ue," said Gormly quietly.
Haldane did not acknowledge the
touch. though he WINGED inwardly at
it.
"And yet you speak," he went on,
"of controlling the company"
81 do"
"This is most interesting / am GU
rious to know how you propose to do
it?
"The business that you have built up
is evidence of your capacity in that
line; but you have. take it, never
mingled in Wall street. never dealt
on the exchange?"
"Never. I didn't mean to, either"
How then do you expect to obtain
control of such a corporation as this,
especially when it has back of it the
CITY government as we'll as the Sach-
EN- society?"
The question was one Gormly could
have declined to answer without a
any offense. for it was one that Hal
dane had no right to ask. He thought
deeply, If swiftly, and before he spoke,
Haldane continued:
"You are. take Il. . wealthy mar:
but no single man could command the
resources of this corporation; that is.
no single man outside of those few who
are in it." he went on, "and it would
be sheer madness for you to attempt
it,"
''Mr. Haldane," said Gormly. coming
to another conclusion, there Is pow
er in this country greater than the
money power"
And what may that be, sir?"
'The power of the people"
'In this instance. the people are al
ready on the side Of the Gotham
Freight Traction company"
Are they 500"
Certainly Through their represen-
tatives they have voted them q fran
chise under which the line has been
constructed and BY which 1t is oper-
ated. through the provisions OF which
it will be held"
Have the people surrendered their
rights absolutely to the Gotham
Freight Traction company"
Il should say that they had"
Are they delivered. bound hand
and foot, to this corporation?"
well. you put it rather POLITICALLY:
but in substance your remark Is true"
"And have they no redress or re-
course?"
Certainly"
"And what is that?'
II haven't the slightest objection to
telling you. They can revoke the
1T6uCulSe-dS Lue SAQHdkAOA VI INC
ninety-nine-year term"
els that all they can do?"
Absolutely all You see. therefore.
1t would be quite hopeless for you to
attempt to fight this corporation, even
with the alliance and support of the
people. which it is by no means GER
tain you could gain"
And that is your unprejudiced opin-
ion?"
the acceptance OF my offer to mediate
between you and them"
And you say your interest is purely
tmpersonal?"
Entirely"
Il am glad, as I said before, to
know that" returned Gormly, DE
cause l should not like to find myself
In opposition to one who has mani
tested such friendliness to mo as you
have"
Haldane looked up suspiciously;
but Gormlys appearance was abso
lutely guileless.
For Notwithstanding what you tell
me-" the merchant continued, "all Of
which is doubtless true. propose to
enter the contest with the Gotham
Freight Traction company. have
never allowed myself to be robbed;
have never been beaten by trickery
and chicanery: and l don't propose to
be robbed or beaten now"
Ruin, absolute ruin, is before you"
said the other earnestly, III you en-
gage in this contest.
But sir, they are trying to hold me
up-to use blunt phrase-for a mil
lion dollars for thing that should
not be worth tenth Of that amount
on a liberal basis. Morally"
Morals, my dear Mr.. Gormly some
how seem to have little to do with
business. You must do what they
like, Or
He shrugged his shoulders.
1--WE shall see," said Gormly. II be-
lieve, though 1 am not student of
military history, that an able general
is one who takes advantage of the
mistakes of the enemy, and that more
battles are won by such sharp sighted
endeavor than by deliberate plan
ming"
"Precisely This Is a case in point.
The Gotham Freight Traction COM
pany is taking advantage OF your mis-
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