New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-09
NAILS SUBWAY PIRATES
Luther Bedford Knows EN-, and
He Speaks Out in Meeting.
BILLIONS OF GRAFT LEFT
Labor Temple Audience Learns
inside Workings of Perfdious
Scheme to Rob City.

That alert and aggressive friend Of the
people Luther s. Bedford discussed the
Transit situation" to his hearts content
on the unbridled platform Of the labor
Temple. at 18th street and Second avenue,
last night.
And that really meant Some goings," as
a friend Of the cause vouchsafed.
Mr.. Bedford journeyed back, with rapid
transit facility. into ancient history Of the
subway problem, away back TO former leg
islatures and the passage Of the so-called
private capital laws" an important item
gone and forgotten by most citizens. as he
said. under the exigencies Of the present
pressing situation But the bold and daring
robbers had their eyes on the loot even
then. and the amazing heritance" had de-
scended 10 :he present crew"
Names were mentioned. names OF men
high in finance and conspicuous now in
the citys rule. II was not a question OF
corruption Of to-day-far be It from the
speaker to say so; they knew thels man
when they nominated him; he ran on a
seductive subway platform, since moulded
to their evil designs. and that is how the
witches" stirred the kettle into its present
noisome brew.
And so here we are with the billion
dollar traction grab" staring US in the
face. and few men within the speaker :
acquaintance brave enough 10 look the
monster in the eyes and enter the lists for
the peoples defence
This is one Of The viiest schemes ever
perpetrated" tine speaker declared With
warmth You can see the ring. partners
in crime. who first passed the private cap
tal laws. but we've blocked some Of their
perridious calculations. our arms We're
weak against such big burglars, but we
defied and I may say with some success,
even the Governor Of the state"
The speaker said his arrest had become
so thoroughly expected whenever he ap-
reared at various meetings to expose the
colossal scandal that IL had become joke.
TO be arrested ana fined $40 never damp
ened his ardor, and he never had the ten.
he added.
Now it Is perfectly plain that their
game was 70 grab the heart Of the sub
way system under the private capital law,
he continued. land now they come 20 us
and not only want us 70 give them the
franchise but to build and hand them the
money besides. There is no dirt in the
world which will turn over the gold ike
the dirt OF Manhattan when IL is dug for
a subway. The present subway affords
an income Of $4,000 a day. and the COM
pany gets three-ffths cf that. They are
making $50 per cent on the investment.
And the new subways Will be built TO carry
million passengers a day. Think OF that.
II YOU don't know what that means you
can get the figures and see for yourself.
The speaker went on to say that step by
step the great grab had been contaminated
one step led its supporters through the de-
vices of the "greengOods' man. he SAID.
Another step was fraught with the homeiy
art of the shell game II was idle tax
TO use more genteel terms in speaking OF
thieves he declared.
Referring to the borrowing capacity OF
this municipality the speaker spoke with
remarkable optimism
Think Of it, he said; this town has a
borrowing capacity Of SiOoOoO,Ooo. The
wealth of New York is greater than all OF
the capitals of Europe combined. If you
don't believe il take the ferry over to New
Jersey and look across 20 this side and
such a magnificent pile of stone and stee
seen before And this is the town that Is
about 70 hand over this grab TO the most
shameless crowd OF villains ever known.
The speaker had warmed I'D 20 a grand
inas
IF Won believe in freeing the people. why
not grab the monster now who Will own
almost everything in this community IN the
years 10 come" ne finished amid bosterous
applause. .. .. .
when the subject was thrown open 10
discussion end questions were allowed from
the floor an elderly man near the platform
wanted 70 know n the lawyer ana MS
work" were not responsible IN large
n,aa sure for most Of the present day iniqul-
ties. He characterized the men or the leSal
fraternity as devils.
ugbt that IL society were properly con-
stituted there would be no evils and con-
sequently no need Of lawyers.