Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-04-21
THE LONG ARM
OF BOSS TANK
BY p. c. Macfarlane.
Copyright, 1909. by TIE Pearson Pub
fishing Company.

Yes. They put that track down
vithGat a permit. They took your
word for It instead of mine. They got
to learn some. You pay for your track.
now. Then you take up your track and
Put that street and them curbs and
cutters just like you found EN-, and
then you wait. You needn't do no in
quirin, but If ever you see a permit
for a spur track across Bryan Street 10
your lot, comm through the Council,
you know it's yours. II you don't ever
see It. you can keep on thin,in' just
the same. what a blamed fool you've
been; and TO rest your mind, you can
get busy putin that teamin' and ware
housin' business back where il was. I'll
turn you in a couple OF hundred tons
of stuff in the next few months. just TO
show you there amt no hard feelin's."
Holman was beaten. Now that he
had surrendered he felt frightened.
All at once a realization Of the terrible
ruthlessness of the forces that had
Teen set in motion against him. came
over him. II was well he quit when he
did Another six months like the past
three would have forced him into alb
solute bankruptcy. and have wiped out
his entire fortune. the accumulations
Of a lifetime OF hard work He looked
across at the face OF the man who, in
quite a business-like way, had set TO
work to force him into submission over
a small matter by the sure process Of
business and social ruin. He was an
ignorant man. this Tank. with a dingy
Office over a cigar factory in a dis.
reputable quarter of the town. And
yet. he had dche all these things to
Mr. Holman. with a swift relentless
ness that made him dizzy. as he
bought OF Il. "a strange feeling Of re
;pect for the man with the big, square,
imiable face. and the terribly long arm
u vengeance. overcame him. A desire
to know him and hear him talk en-
tered his mind Mr.. Holman sat down,
and tipped back his hat upon his head,
while he mopped his perspiring brow.
What | want to know" he asked.
humbly, is how you did il? am not
surprised that you could command the
assistance Of toughs and rowdies. or
that you could take away from me the
business of men who are connected
with the city government. or involved
in commercial transactions with II. but
this persecution to which | have been
subjected has not only done that. 1t
has involved my business associates.
It has prevented me from getting loans
ar the leading financial institutions in
this city. II has precluded lifetime pa
irons Of those banks from getting &C
commodations there, because they did
business with me. II has even extended
into society II has closed the doors or
homes against my own wife and daugh-
ters. whose social standing has never
been questioned (Holman was speak
ing with great feeling), and, finally. II
was leading TO their social ostracism.
| am free to say. Mr.. Tank. that that
is what brings me TO submission. But.
my God. man. it's terrible power you
WELD, You are more absolute in this
city than the Gar of Russia in s,
Petersburg. | never dreamed th. ex-
tent OF 1t before. Can you tell me upon
what It rests and how long it is TO
Iast?"
Yep" said Tank. promptly leaning
forward with a most engaging frank
ness OF manner al can tell you"
II was Characteristic of Daniel Tank
hat he could not only be magnanimous
o fallen foe. but. by long experience,
re had learned how TO trust and make
an ally Of such man.
al like The men I have licked. like
en- and trust EN-" was an axiom OF
Ms. and measured by this standard
Holman was entitled TO considerable
share of the boss's confidence, and he
poured It out quite unhesitatingly.
at rests on men like you" he be-
gan, bluntly.
Holman started.
Tank went on: Last campaign there
was a move to elect an independent
mayor and city council. one Endorsed
by the high-brows on the Hills that you
train with. You was member OF their
campaign committee, but all the while
YOU was lukewarm because we let you
stand your trucks in the street at
night. and because you was gettin'
some advantages on the water front
from us. You was gettin' special privf-
leges. and you wanted to keep EN-.
You sold yourself for the price Of
barn and a little haulin' contract. The
chairman of that campaign COMMITTEES
was the head of the biggest wholesale
business in this town, with factories
and stores, hirin' about three thou
sand men. theoretically. he's for good
government. but his firm Is corpora
ton. He had special privileges from
the present city government-from me.
In fact. Personally. maybe, he was with
the crowd he was supposed to be with.
but in a business way his firm was
with us. It's that way right down
through. There amt hardly any bust
ness man in this town that don't shut
the door of his patriotism behind him
when he leaves the house and comes TO
his Office. You do it. Every one OF
tbar, hapkars do N There amt one