Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-08-24

lost. As he descended the steps. the
cheering changed into a demand for a
speech from him. No hastings had
been prepared. but by the curbstone
stood a big, high.powered automobile.
1t was filled with people. Livingstone
Haldane sat in the chauffeur's seat.
The place beside him was vacant.
up here, Mr.. Gormly!" he cried.
pointing. Without observing who was
in the %tonneau. Gormly clambered up
to the seat and stood on it. He was
thus lifted sufficiently high above the
crowd.
Fellow citizens" he began as the
cheering subsidized and the multitude
gave him opportunity to speak, you
know that In order to complete the
ring OF oppression which holds the
city in its iron grasp under the name
of the Gotham Freight Traction com
pany, II was necessary that the old
franchise of the New York Street Car
company expiring today should be.
come the property of that company.
Through the franchises they already
enjoy. they have created an institution
that will enable them to continue
their predatory practises-"
Talk English." shouted a voice
from the crowd.
THANK you. my friend" answered
Gormly. which will enable them to
steal from you your money, your earn
ings. your Investments, your profits,
your capital, whatever you have for
the next one hundred years. They
have sold bonds to pay for the build
Ing of the road; not one cen OF their
W money has gone into it. They
have issued stock to themselves to
double or quadruple the value of the
investment, and they are determined
to make you pay interest, large inter
est, on that stock as well as on the
bonds. But, In order that they can
carry out this nefarious and thieving
proposition. they must secure this
franchise which expired today, other.
wise their traction lines will be incom.
plete. will end in the air, there will
be no connection between It's ends;
for the territory covered by this fran.
chise is SO situated that II the lines
are to be connected 1t must be
through this territory. Consequently
this franchise is the most valuable Of
the few remaining properties of the
people. You w 1t; It belongs to
you. It's your last chance to get your
rights. II you hold 1t, they are at
your mercy.
This franchise, the possession OF
which so much to you, Is about
to be given away. The council has
overwhelmingly passed an ordinance
granting 1t. without restrictions. to
the Gotham Freight Traction company
for the space Of IN hundred years.
VIII you sanction that"
The square was now seething with
excitement. Gormly's clear. powerful
voice carried to the extremes of the
crowd. His plain, practical presenta-
ton was simple enough for all to I'M
derstand. He paused at this juncture
and surveyed the crowd. A voice
suddenly cried a shrill negative, and
instantly the word was caught up and
a great laundering chorus of mo, no!
Never" rolled through the park with
ever increasing volume and vehe.
mence.
If Gormly had looked back, he could
have seen the windows of the city
hall crowd with aldermen. white faced
and anxious. listening to that tire,
mendous and even furious negative.
Lets get the aldermen out here!'
cried q voice In q pause in the com
motion. land show EN- what VIC
think"
There was an instant response Il
the suggestion. The people made O
wild surge toward the entrance OF
the city hall. The multitude could
easily have ~degenerated into a mob
But Gormly checked 1t. His coptro
was admirable.
mo, gentlemen" he cried, mo, mel
and citizens of New York.. We mus,
do things lawfully. The grant ha.
not been signed by the mayor. Be
lieve me. they will not be insensIbl,
to this protest. Let it be repeated IL
every local organization: let ever,
member of the board of aldermen b,
warned by his constituents not I,
press this bill. 10 reconsider his &c
ton at once.
:. Gentlemen" he held up n piec,
OF paper. One OF the tall lights in tn
square illuminated his face and figure
, His every action was distinctly visibl
to the multitude have here In m
, hand a check. certified by the City q
4 Gotham National bank. for two an
Z one.half millions of dollars. Befor
) this ordinance was passed this ev,
, ming, not ten minutes ago, | offere
a this sum Of money as a forfeitur,
binding me to pay ten millions for tn