The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1913-07-15
49, r.srz.F-vss. s-yr7
Copyright by tho International Press Buroaul

Judge, grlmly. prove them guilty of
bribery Send them to prison. Break
them up. Throw the fear of God so
hard into the city government of this
town that it will be years before
city official dares to think OF taking a
bribe"
That is right" agreed the retired
capitalist, 1--WE must scare this town
so it will not forget"
The first process Of concocting this
scare was the sending of Clutter and
Dawson of the Burns Detective Agency
to take up temporary residence ut
the Imperial hotol-the leading hotel
in Springvale. Clutter was 4 merry
looking little Englishman who could
make friends with anybody in the
world at ten minutes notice. Dawson
WAS q young Incorporating fellow
who looked the part of a high class
salesman or q high class gambler, de-
pcnding ON your point Of view. They
merely registered at the Imperial and
commenced to spend money jud.cious-
j. In the bars around the city hall. Il
was not long before they began to at
tract attention.
As in every city, the liquor empor-
iums near the city hall were the meet
ing places for o certain brand of poll
ucians-the brand that Clutter and
Dawson We're anxious to meet. Natur-
ally they did not display any of this
anxiety. After two or three DAYS of
being good fellows around town they
began TO make the acquaintance OF
the politicians who were steady Gus.
toners of the places whore the detec
tlves We're spending their time and
money. AT first the politicians were
shy about making acquaintances Lat
or they began to warm up and after a
week Of careful work the detectives
found themselves part of the little
ring that made these bar rooms their
hcadquartors and whose occupations
lay in the city hall. There were two
councilmen with whom they beca
especially friendly. Corcoran and
Stein. who we're The leaders of the
city han clique When they had S.
tabishe1 themselves on firm ground
with these two. Clutter and Dawson
preached their aneges reason for be-
ing in Sprincvale
We represent the American Wood
Block company" they said. "and we
want 10 try To sell some blocks in
Sprinsvaie. we sell the best blocks
in The world"
Here they brought ont some excel
Tent samples of wooden paving blocks
and bcSau to eNpiate on their merits.
Not only that, but We can sell
these at prices far below those charg-
cd for the ordinary blocks" continued
Clutter. I'VE are so anxious to put
oW G;cel. into Springyale streets that
We Will make lne city price at which
1t can save al kinds o. money ON IT'S
paving bills. TT bet you we can save
the city $4,000 a year and give it bet
ter paving material man 1t ever had
before"
We'll. what of ito" said Stein
We'll" continued Dawson 1--WE
thought if we could interest you gen
tlemen mud could show you where we
could save The city al this money. we
might convince you that 1t would he
in the interests of the city to intro
duce wood paving here"
Yes said Stein, who was tho
spokesman for the councilmen. what
of 81"
why" said Dawson. you gonde.
men. in order TO help the city save
money ought to introduce an ordi-
nance calling for wood paving on
some streets. Then. after we had
shown how much we could save the
city. we might hope to get some big
ger contracts"
CoTcorau and Stein laughed as one
man.
Gee but you're greenw laughed
Stein. Us that really what you got
u5 MP here to tell us?"
why. certainly" said Clutter. nil
innocence. Were statesmen for the
wooden block company"
and you've got couple of wooden
blocks yourself" roared Stein of
that's all you know about selling STUFF
10 cities ] don't see you holding your
Jobs mucn longer"
"Wty?
because that ain't the cay It's
done said stein Anyhow, not ia
Srr'r2va'e You got to have a differ
emf system than that. Johnnie. To do
business here. Save the city money,
What tho devil do you suppose we
care about lhe city2 TO hell with the
city, lf that's all you know about
getting city contracts, take your little
blocks ana co. You can bet you'll
rcrel e.- % contract here. If that's all
You know about the game"
C.uicr and Dawson. having found
ont what they were sent for-that the
"ouuc.imen of SnrireyaIo were reach
Irg openly for Graft with greedy
haufa egd having implanted the
germ Of wood block paving ln the
minds O.. the two leaders. quietly pacs
cd their er.rs paid their bills at the
ir. and fircd ONT of the case
H..u came into the game Sow
..0e really was am American Wood
I.. comr'ry and tho president of
t. an a'I mru named Steger He
- r-.H. 90 Gro running down graft
era ord for tic purposes of this fob
De loaned mc hs name and Identity
S iew days after Clutter and Daw.
son had retired from SprlnFvalo AL
fcuoau Stein got q letter from the
president of tho block company. JIG
read.
"niy Dear Alderman.
or ann afraid that my two statesmen
who saw you in ie d to fmnishiue
wooden blocks for paving ln your city
knew little about how such things are