Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-08-17

/ enter rS6 contest with the Gotham
/ Freight Traction company. [ have
never allowed myself to be robbed;
have never been beaten by trickery
and chicanery; and don't propose to
| be robbed or beaten now
/ Ruin, absolute ruin. is before you
said the other earnestly, IF you en-
gage in this contest
! But sir, they are trying 70 hold me
up-to use a blunt phrase-for a mil
I lion dollars for a thing that should
not be worth a tenth Of that amount
on a liberal basis. Morally"
Morals, my dear Mr.. GormIy, some
how seem to have little TO do with
business. You must do what they
like, Or
He shrugged his shoulders ...
We shall see" said Gormly. q be
lieve, though I am not student Of
military history, that an able general
/ is one who takes advantage OF the
mistakes Of the enemy, and that more
battles are won by such sharp sighted
endeaYor than by deliberate plan
ming"
Precisely This is a case in point.
| The Gotham Freight Traction COM
pany is taking advantage Of your mis-
| take"
But I have also heard" continued
Gormly imperturably, that the ablest
| general is he who not only takes ad-
vantage Of his enemy's mistakes but
/ who turns his own mistakes to good
account. I propose to antagonize the
party in power and the Sachem which
| granted this franchise and delivered
the city into the hands of this corpor-
alton and to drive them out"
Many men have tried that; none
in my recollection have succeeded"
! The more honor in succeeding now,
and the more inspiration to try"
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 cards on the table. 81 propose to
! take advantage of the one blunder of
the 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-
TEN, without which it begins and ends
| in the air, they must have the old
| New York Street Car company fran
chise which expires next spring. 1t
| 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 I'M
til the April elections. The franchise
expires in March. No re-grant of it
could be made until then 1t will be
renewed before new administration
could supplant the old, even if your
wild dreams were successful"
THAT is to be seen," answered
| GormIy coolly.
my dear sir, it is self evident"
"By no means. Public opinion shall
be aroused on the question of the re
newal of the franchise Of the New
| York Street Car company, with clear
| explanation Of the principles and con-
| sequences involved, to such an extent
! that I do not believe any administra-
ton on earth will dare to counter it."
And who will do this arousing?"
Il will"
"How?"
by offering myself as a candidate
for mayor of New York and by fight
ing the battle on that issue, and that
! alone"
| q might" said Haldane slowly, aft
er deeply thoughtful moment-'T
might secure the privileges you desire
conditioned"
Il don't desire them now, Mr.. Hal
dane" returned Gormly. ST am in the
| battle to stay. l ask nothing from the
! Gotham Freight Traction company; 1t
can confer no favors upon me. I shall
take what I am entitled to by the
grace of God and the will of the PEG.
pie"
Haldane stared a long time at the
| dark, determined face of his host
you will make splendid enemy,
Mr.. Gormly," he said at last. THE
battle between you and the Traction
company will be one worth going a
| long distance to see"
| HaIdane looked fixedly at the young.
er man. He acknowledged that in
him the Gotham Freight Traction
company and he himself had found the
worthiest antagonist that the abund-
ant and brilliant talent of the great
metropolis could produce.
At that instant the tall clock in the
hall struck the hour Of IL.
7 have the honor" said GormIy,
bowling formally, ito wish you a very
/ Merry Christmas, Mr.. Haldane."
CTO BE CONTINUED
| nElFEI nnIkIN nJr H- RnP