The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-08

chise was voted on they had the shock of their lives.
 Seven voted for 1t and seven against. It required two-thirds vote to carry it.
 Ducey seemed stunned. Get up and say something" pleaded Arnold. Argue with 'em. Try to get them to recon sider."
 No, no; it's no use, replied Ducey.
 Somebody has been at work and upset everything"
 "Then I'll talk to them myself" de- clared Arnold.
 You can't. No one is allowed to speak without permission" said Ducey. | Arnold had no experience as a speaker but he had nerve He walked through the main aisle until he reached the clerks desk. Then he turned. Gentle men," he said, 'I want permission to ask some questions This matter is Of
 vital concern to your city" Some one put a motion that. the privi- lege be extended. and it carried
 Instantly Arnold, with his arm resting on the clerks desk, confronted the | butcher.
 Twill you kindly tell me-" he asked
 why you voted against this franchise ?' | The butcher stammered and then in weird English made halting explanation that the rate-$3o for business and s15 a year for house service within the city limits"-meant nothing, as the company might consider only one small street or section within the limits and charge what it liked elsewhere.
 "1s that your only objection?" Arnold
 inquired, looking him in the eye. The butcher went red, but answered, | Yes"
 MT Ducey" ordered Arnold, "change
 that franchise to read anywhere and everywhere within the city limits.p. | Arnold got to the wheelwright next. It was n circus while it lasted, but he l whipped him into line He got two others. too. and then after a motion to reconsider the former vote the franchise went through, II to 8.
 | Three or four days after the action of the council Arnold received word that the | mayor desired to see him. The mayor | was shrewd citizen He looked Arnold over, and then, making sure the door was fastened and that no one would hear their conversation, he smilingly began talking.
 My dear MT. Arnold" he said. q had visit from a gentleman the other day, and I want you to know about it. Now. this gentleman does not think we'll of your franchise. and he asked me to veto | it. When he came in he said MT Mayor, there are some questions men cannot be expected to agree upon. Now, l for example, take the question of silver
 believe you supported MT. Bryan. Now, sir, if you were to put BOO silver dollars in your pocket you could not go through
 the street without everybody knowing you had the silver. Now, as to gold,
 which has many advocates. Here is a
 $500 bill--a gold bill. Now I lay 1t on your desk. If you should put that in your | pocket no one could tell that you had it
 there Is not that so, MT. MayorT
 Now, MT. Arnold, my visitor argued strongly against this telephone franchise | which the council passed and he argued so well that I promised I would not sign it-mind you, said I would not sign It." At this the mayor leered at Arnold. | The mayor to better illustrate his story | had taken the $500 bill from his pocket, thrown it on the desk and then picked it | up and fiirted it between his fingers before returning it to his pocket. | Arnold was stumped. Possibly he would have thrown a $500 bill on the mayors desk to match the other if he had one, | but he had not. He felt that if the other | bribe was not met or exceeded the game was up. He smiled as he told the mayor he would bring forth as strong" an ar gument as possible and then he hurried to tell Ducey of the new and surprising turn in affairs.
 Ducey was raging angry. "Ill fix the old thief; I'll fix him!' he shouted. Then, cooling down, he had Arnold go over the story in detail and repeat with exact ness the Mayors words.
 'Clever rascal" said Ducey. He told the briber he would not sign the franchise and sent him away satisfied. He did not. however. pledge himself to veto it."
 Arnold had not noticed this before, and began to pluck up hope
 Maybe he won't veto,' he said.
 "veto!'' said Ducey, whose fighting blood was up, "I'll bet my life he'll not veto 1t. Come with me-"
 They went to the Mayors office. but the