Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-08-11

chise under which cae lire has been
constructed and by which it IL opeFN
ated, through the provisions o: which
it will be held"
Have the people surrendered their
rights absolutely 70 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?"
81 haven't the slightest objection to
telling you. They can revoke the
franchise-at the expiration of the
ninety-nine-year term"
rs that all they can do?"
Absolutely all. You see, therefore,
it 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 ?'
"It is. Therefore I urge upon you
the acceptance OF my offer to mediate
between you and them"
And you say. your interest is purely
impersonal?"
Entirely"
st am glad, as I said before, to
know that" returned Gormly, "be-
cause 1 should not like to find myself
in opposition to one who has mani
tested such friendliness to me as you
have"
but Gormly's appearance was abso-
lutely guileless.
For Notwithstanding what you tell
me-" the merchant continued, "all of
which is doubtless true, I propose to
enter the contest with the Gotham
Freight Traction company. l have
never allowed myself to be robbed; I
have never been beaten by trickery
and c~hicanery; and l don't propose to
be robbed or beaten now"
Ruin, absolute ruin. is before you,"
said the other earnestly, "1f 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 that should
not be worth a tenth of that amount
OF 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 Gorm1y. Il De-
lieve, though l am not a student Of
military history, that IN able general
is one who takes advantage of he
mistakes of the enemy, and that more
battles r 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 card& on the table. 81 propose to
- "$Ssntage of the one blunder of
{ 49, Gotham Freight Traction COM
pany."
"And what is that?" asked Hal
dane with intense eagerness. There
was no longer the faintest pretense
between these two. His cards were
On the table as well, although he had
not admitted it.
In order to make the franchise Of
the Gotham Freight Traction company
really of value, to complete the sys-
tenn, without which 1t begins and ends
in the air, they must have the old
New York Street Car company fran
chise which expires next spring. It
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 un-
til the April elections. The franchise
expires in March. No re-grant Of II
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 seen," answered
Gormly coolly-
MY dear sir, 1t Id SELF evident"
by no Public opinion shall
be aroused on the question Of the re-,
newal of the franchise OF the New
York Street Car company, with a clear
explanation Of the principles and con.
sequences involved, to such an extent
that I do not believe any administra-
ton on earth will are to counter Il"
"And h will do this arousing?"
81 will"
"How?"
by Offering myself as a candidate