The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-08-31

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"
We'll, you put 1t rather POLITICALLY:
but In substance you remark is true"
And have they no redress or re-
course"
Certainly"
And what Is that?"
Il haven't the slightest objection 10
telling you. They can revoke the
franchise-at the expiration Of the
ninety-nine-year term"
is 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 unprecedented opin.
ion ?"
1T IS. Therefore I urge upon you
the acceptance o. my offer to mediate
" you and them.
And you say your interest is purely
i~mpersonal?"
Entirely"
Il am glad, as I said before, to
know that" returned Gormly, be
cause l should not like to find myself
in opposition to one who has mani
tested such friendliness to me as you
have"
Haldane looked up suspiciously:
but Gormly's 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 C~hicanery; and | don't propose to-
be robbed or beaten now"
Ruin, absolute ruin is before you"
said the other earnestly, IF you en-.
gage in this contest.
But sir, they are trying to hold me
up-to use a blunt phrase-for a mil
lion dollars for a thing hat should
not be worth a 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.
I'VE shall see," said Gormly. Il DO
| lava tbnruh I on, not N Ct,,lprt ~
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"
But suppose you did succeed, what
then? How would that affect the
Gotham Freight Traction company"
MEANWHILE" said Gormly, and In
this instance he deliberately laid all
his cards on the table. Il propose to
take advantage OF the one blUnder Of
the Gotham Freight Traction com
pany."
And what is that" asked Hal
dane with intense e~agerness. There
was no longer the faintest p~rctense
between these two. His cards were
on the table as well, although he had
not admitted it.
I'm order to make the franchise Of
the Gotham Freight Traction company
really of value, to complete the sys.
tenn, without which it begins and ends
in the air, they must have the old
New York Street Car company fran
chise which expires next spring. 1t
covers the only available routes and
the only available streets TO connect
the two ends of the Gotham enter.
prise. Somehow or other the astute
minds controlling the corporation
failed to secure the renewal of this
franchise. 1t has to be voted upon
and passed in the spring
The present administration" was
the quick reply, will be in power I'm.
til the April elections. The franchise
expires in March. No re-grant of il
could be made until then. 1t will be
renewed before a new administration
could ~supplant the old, even if your
wild dreams were successful"
That is to be seem" answered
Gormly cooliy.
my lear sir. It IS self evident"
by no means. Public opinion shall.
be aroused on the question of the re
newal Of the franchise of the New
York Street Car company, with a clea,
explanation OF the principles and con
sequences involved, to such an extent
that | dc not believe any administra
ton on earth will dare to counter it.
And who will do this arousing?"
Il will"
How"
by Offering myself as a candidate
for mayor Of New York and by fight
ing the battle on that issue, and that
alone"
Il might" said Haldane slowly, aft
err a deeply thoughtful moment.-"l
|, might secure the privileges you desire
conditioned"
t Il don't desire them now. Mr.. Hal
dane" returned Gormly. Il am in the
battle 10 stay. | ask nothing from the
Gotham Freight Traction company; !