Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-09-11


self and meet on friendly ground the
new and disturbing factor in Belmont
politics, Judge Gilbert invited ice
Wright. the new owner OF the paper,
20 dinner. II was just by accident,
apparently. that Dir Kendall had been
picked up al almost the last minute.
The only others present were DR..
and Mrs. Hayes. Sam Hayes, a ris-
ing young physician and surgeon. was
coroner of Belmont county, an office
which his society friends joked him
about, but one which Hayes recOg-
nized and accepted as a political step
ping stone. Then. too. il gave him OPP
portuniuies to repay his political
friends David Kerr liked to have
such young men hold Office.
Dinner over, Gilbert and Kendall
withdrew to the library for a final
conference over the stock-yards situa-
tiCn. Again they tried to telephone
David Kerr. only to receive the in
formation that he was not at home.
You really think the Belmont
News having been bought by this out
slider" qaeried Kendall. puts a diff
rerent aspect on the present situa-
tiou?"
Judge for yourself" answered the
Belmont attorney. I had AR Wright
to dinner tonight 50 that you could
meet him without arousing his suspi-
ci01s. ] wanted to help you that
much"
What Kendall really thought he evil
denced by his indirect reply.
I don't blame Dave Kerr for being
angry because Wright slipped in and
bought the paper"
For d minute or more the two men
smoked in silence. Kendall was won
dering what he could say 10 his Chi
cago principals which would make
them understand that Belmont was
not now the Belmont of the old days.
that although to all appearances it
was the same the practiced eye could
detect the vague unrest which per-
vaded it.
Judge Gilbert had been too long in
the harness to vince at a corporation
request for the vacation of principal
thoroughfare and a public park, but
he was tired OF the long fight for
grasping masters whose one demand
Vas always for more. more, more.
And yet he had no sympathy with
such men as Joe Wright He had
made UP his mind however. that he
would not aid the company in this
new franchise grab. He was partly
led to this conclusion, all unconscious
y, because lie knew David Kerr vas
not betraying any interest IL it.
The river eats NJ cur tracks on the
west, protested Kendall The stock
yards'n never be safe while we de
pend on the one line" Then he added
with emphasis, We must come down
Maple avenue on the east and use
Benton Park for switching yards
1t can't be done"
1T can be done. Dave Kerr can do
anything he pleases. He's the abso-
Lutte Loss of Belmont"
This was said with such a tone of
fiuality that Judge Gilbert saw no
uset of replying. He knew that Kerr
Was the absolute boss of Belmont
There flashed through the minds of
both men the thought that the Bel
mont News might have something to
say. 1t couldn't prevent a franchise
being passed, of course, but publicity
at times was unpleasant. This was
something Kerr did not court, Gilbert
knew. He was the easy boss. letting
every one have a share of the spoils,
and thus all We're satisfied. Few in
deed had been the times when the
town had attempted to revolt.
You'd have the whole town up in
arms" demonstrated Gilbert.
They've been up in arms before.
Once they brought ropes to hang the
council, but Kerr put through the
water works deal. You're the attor-
ney for the street railway company
you know what he did there"
Yes. yes I know" Gilbert admitted
hastily Then With a sigh OF relief
That's all past"
He ran his hand through his hair
gray long before the frost of age
could come to silver it. and was
thankful that such episodes were
things of the past He was weary OF
it all. Kendals next remark. deliv
cred with the chill incisiveness of a
lawyer cross-examining a belligerenl
witness, brought him once more to the
defense OF the man who had made his
success possible.
Is Dave Kerr keeping out of the
deal only through fear of young
Wright and the Belmont News?"
He isn't afraid of anything, Mr.
Kerr merely says that it doesn't III
/ terest him at the present time. AS
for me. I'm out of it"
You're still Kerr's yight-hand ad
wiser"
Pardon me. his legal adviser"
Kendall did not pause to acknowl
/ edge the distinction, but went on. this
time straight to the heart OF the mat
/ ter
Il made what the stock-yards PEG
| pie consider a good offer. If that ism
enough, what's his price,"
/ This point-biauk question irritatet
| Gilbert He much preferred to call Z
spade an agricultural implement ever
when talking with those who stood
| close to him in his mauipulations fol
/ the various corporations he represent
| ed. He therefore ignored the ques
| ton, preferring TO tell why the mat
ter could not be taken up al present
The elections coming on in s
couple OF months, and your franchise
would be made an issue. We can
afford it with the News in position
TO boost the opposition party"
I've got TO get it through as soOI
as possible. There's nothing raw il
this franchise, is there?"
That's the Chicago point of view,
answered KendalS>- stripped of lega
verbiage. what you want is to lay rail
road tracks. on which Will run cattl,