Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-09-21

OF the amount, for it was vastly great
er than what Gorm1y expended. They
had nearly as many expenses as hes
except for the newspaper advertising,
which they got free. and in addition
they disbursed an immense bribery
and corruption fund through Lifey
Connell, Habberley and Benson.
Again and again were Haldane and
his associates called upon for remit
tances. which were invariably forth
coming. There was no possibility OF
refusal. Failure to win a victory
would mean financial ruin to many Of
them. Fortunately for him, it did not
mean 50 much to Haldane, although
his great fortune would be seriously
impaired by defeat Most OF the
others, however, had turned over
everything that they possessed, and
pledged their credit as well, to the
vast syndicate Of which he was the
head. Indeed, he and Van Slyke would
be the only ones not totally ruined
by the election Of Gormly. Conse-
uuently they paid and paid and paid,
protesting in their hearts but shutting
their teeth grimly and handing out
the cash, which was disbursed to the
best advantage by Biffey and Benson.
Gormly himself spoke every night
somewhere, and the crowds that greet.
ed him were enormous. Meanwhile
every detective in the employ of the
city, and all others who could be
sUborned, were concentrating their
efforts on GormIy's past and present.
He could not take a step outside OF
his office without being Swallowed. 1t
was not difficult for spies to mingle
with the crowd of buyers in his store
and scrutinize every person who en-
tered his private room. They had
so far discovered nothing. GOrmly
had lived an absolutely clean, upright,
honest, hardworking life since he
landed in New York. They did not
find out where he came from or. even
where he was born The only possible
clue they had was the statement that
he had once been in the west, with
which Haldane had supplied them.
Men had secured the principal cities
of the west; but nothing had been
learned ConneH was in despair. He
and Liffey and Benson had again and
again been on the eve of determining
upon the manufacture Of some degrad-
ing or discriminating story which
would at least serve their purpose. 1t
would not be difficult to get witnesses
to such an endeavor; but it would be
highly dangerous to resort to such an
expedient, and they were still hesi-
tating and undecided.
About this time the disputed fran
chise expired. A resolution was i'm
mediately introduced in the board OF
aldermen at the city hall granting a
renewal of it to the Gotham Freight
Traction company. Every move in
the game was watched, and the reso-
luton had scarcely been read and re-
ferred to a committee when it was
communicated to Gormly. The next
day the Gormly papers rang with the
charge that the city fathers intended
to give away it's most valuable remain
ing public franchise to the Gotham
Freight Traction company.
At the next meeting, despite the
furious protests of the Gormly party,
the resolution was put upon its pas
sage. Gormly here played his great
est political card. Attended by a
body of friends, he presented himself
at the council chamber and forced ad-
mission. When the resolution re
newing the franchise was about to be
voted upon, as a citizen of New York
deeply interested in the matter he de-
manded to be heard. Before permits
sion was either granted or refused
by the astonished presiding officer,
Gormly drew from his pocket a piece
of paper Amid the deepest silence
he held it UP and said:
ITO BE CONTINUJED)