The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-06-20

For nearly a score of years, Dan
Tank, Boss, had ruled the city with
czar.like sway No man had ever
beaten him in an open fight, and every
attempt to overcome him by treachery
had resulted disastrously for the trail
tor But strange to say, the three men
In the city who thought they knew him
best, failed to be warned by this, and
| tried both. 1t came about when the res
form campaign, headed by Richard
Dunno. a wealthy newspaper man, was
at its height
They were sitting together, these
three-Joseph Donnelly, President of
the Twentieth Century Traction Conn
pany, John Manning, President and
General Manager of the Combined Gas
and Lighting Company, and William
Macy. leading director in the Bankers
Trust Company-in the Office of Man
ming.
For more than dozen years they
had bought and sold the public profit
| for private gain. and always, Daniel
Tank, big OF voice, heavy of limb. and
stout of heart was the auctioneer.
while Ezra Vining, sharp-featured,
| fishyeyed, of an uncanny, ghostlike
| presence. negotiated the deals and car;
ried the price Of the transaction on its
homing flight to the always yawningl
pockets of the Boss.
The reform movement was some six,
months old Indictments had been fly
ing thick and fast for three OF them.
There had been two trials and two CON-
yictions. one of these, Michael Hal
loran, lieutenant of the Boss, was i'm.
portant. But Dan Tank, boastful,
truculent, resourceful, remained UNI
daunted although his own case came
next to trial.
Meanwhile, the men who for more
than dozen years had formed the
chief market to which the Boss an
nually brought his grist of special,
privileges, felt their courage ooze.
What's this thing coming to, I want
to know?" queried Donnelly, petu-
lantly. Its all right, him mailing al
lot of these petty grafters, but what
does he want to be going after Tank
for? Tanks hard fighter. You can't
send him to jail, and it means long |
fight and the town all torn up. It'sI
hurting business and ought to bel
stopped"
That's just IT," said Macy Lets !
oOOP ~ VIC Sdn puI tLS SCICNS On
Dunno through the banks, and If that
doesn't cure it, we can reach him
Through the merchants that do the
heaviest advertising. What do you say,
Manning"
say that you can't reach Dunno
that way unless you stick to it till you
ruin him, and that's long fight. It's
easier the other way"
What other way" queried Dom,
nelly, still querulous.
Why, let Tank take his medicine
I'd just as soon be rid Of him as not.
He's been too arrogant and exacting
for long time. If we just keep our
hands off, Dunno will put stripes on
him. and we'll find whoever succeeds
him easier
That suits me right down to the.
ground" declared Donnelly, but we've;
got to stand by him or he'll turn on
u.s."
We can safeguard that, all right. -
affirmed Manning, confidently.
Howl" asked Macy, eagerly.
Control the prosecution" went on
Manning, glibly. DUNES put good
deal of money into this prosecution, q
hundred thousand at least, and l hap
pen TO know that moneys coming slow.
Suppose we each go to him as good citi-
zens, interested In seeing this thing
through, and offer him twenty-five
thousand apiece. Tell him we have
stood back, thinking it was only a
flash in the pan; but now he's going
right after Tank, handspring OF the
whole works, we see he's in earnest.
IT. otr
| to prove It, He'll fall for it. That will
| let us on the inside. We can influence
| the prosecution somewhat, and see that
| he doesn't get any fool notion of going
| after the business men who have been
| held up by this pirate crew"
Mr.. Manning managed to get a real
look of outraged virtue upon his face
| as he uttered these last words. The
ready explanation of every business
| man who brides his private way to
public pastures is that he is the VIC
! tim of extortion, and this phrase as
much as the rest of Manning's plan,
fell upon sympathetic ears
/ do you think it will work." queried
/ Donnelly, cautiously
Cant help it." declared Manning.
sanguinely. at lets US get behind the
reformers' breastw orks and train their
heaviest guns on the man we want to
get rid of. Tanks hard fighter, but
he could never turn Dunno against us.
once he took us into partnership with
him"
Donnelly tested the idea slowly in
his mind for moment.
But" he persisted, suppose he
Just got bull mad and went before the
Grand Jury and gave testimony him
self to indict US, regardless Of the re-
4 form movement. He'd get an indict-
ment that way"
Not against u.s." argued Manning.
you forget that neither one of US has
ever paid a dollar to Tank directly.
i He can't testify against either Of u.s.
Vining has always handled every trans.
action. We give money to Vining. We
do not know what he does with 1t
Tank can testify he gets money from
vining, but he can't swear 1t comes
from u.s."
But suppose he starts with an In
dictment against Vining. Vining
loyal, but there's nothing OF the mar
tyr about him. He'd testify against us
10 cayo h{rpca1fD