Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-28

not benefit us in any way, but will give
the suburban districts an unfair advan-
tage over us. our property now has
hardly its assessed valuation Another
| man in the ward and I are sending out
these cards. l will not give his name
because it is none of your business and
because | do not wish to appear to be
hiding behind him. l accept the full
responsibility"
Lying within reach of Lanes band was
proof sheet like the cards being spread
throughout the city.
The sage of the Republican party was
sarcastic and resentful from the time an
EVENING LEDGER reported entered the
office. At first Mr.. Lane answered
Euardedly and without point, but soon
launched upon a vigorous condemnation
of the entire transit plan env'""
81 can't see how any one can approve
of the plan. Wig even - -... ...
have proven to the satisfaction If tho
courts that they cannot run ~ '"r ,''..,
Pc cents a mile, and here is 'ToyIor
promising li-mile ride Iur d LILx,,N,
preposterous."
Mr.. Lane was reminded hat in New
York ride of q H'ittes can he had in
tne SUBWAY ior cents and that one may
ooalu d stIet E.ar at the northernmost
punt III MajIiattan Island, ride about i
anothe'~5 mile ride over the Municipal
relrE to Staten Island across the Bay.
w." Lane had no answer to this. He
S"itched for a time into a denunciation
rof the newspapers
DENoUNCEs NEWSPAPERS.
What are you interviewing me for,
any way? Your paper won't use a line
of this" he said. at hasn't in the past.
l don't know what has got into the papers
that they are completely hypnotized by
Merritt Taylor Years ago, when I
favored transit, and transit not paid for
by the city, either, they attacked me.
Now they have switched around and are
attacking me again. I don't know why
they do it,"
Several times during the interview the
reporter tried TO learn the name of the
other Goth Ward man who is interested
in defeating the transit loan. Each time
Mr. Lane grew more excited and finally
said it was none of the reporters busi-
ness,
IT'S none OF your businessl It's none
of your business!" he burst out. How
much are you getting a week? What's
ligion? Are you married? There you are.
That's as much my business as the other
thing is yours"
Things concerning politics and transit
are public business and the public has
right to know about them" the re-
porter answered,
There's nothing not political-econom.c
political in this It's economic and f.
nancia!."
Which is equally important and of in
terest to the public"
We'll, l won't tell you, and that's the
end of it.: It's mars o.. your b - IS"
49,
KedoubIed efforts to secure a large
loan vote were started Immediately af-
ter they learned of the cards by the
Committee of One Thousand and other
friends of real rapid transit Until the
cards came to light they had been get
ting more confident every moment that
victory was i0 sight, 1t was thought
all organized opposition to transit had
been located definitely.
PLAN KEPT SECRET.
Steps had been taken effectually to
combat this opposition. The hackers of
real rapid transit were almost ready to
relax in their efforts and leave the
question TO the people to decide GER
tain that their campaign of education
would bring abS"t an overwhelming
vote in favor of the loan.
Then some one learned that a Lane
man was sending the cards broadcast.
Lanes opposition had been apparent
months ago. but when United States
Senator Boies PenTose came out openly
for Transit last week, it was supposed
Lane would fall in line. Therefore. the
cards came as a distinct surprise.
The motive for the Lane opposition is
an open book according to the hackers
OF Transit. They say it may be traced
directly 10 his holdings in the Union
Traction Company. He is one OF tae
heaviest stockholders OF that company,
which has never agreed 70 the Taylor
plans OF rapid transit.
On November 16 1914. David II. Lane,
in declaiming the Union Traction Com
panys opposition to the transit plan, said
that the Union Traction stockholders had
more than paid the $3.50 due on each
share of stock He argued that the re-
dueed income which resulted from cut
ting the fare TO West Philadelphia from
ten to hye cents years ago had more than
for the balance due ON the
stock
Il was pointed out that toss growine
out Of reduced dividends could not be
properly classed As an assessment, but
Ar. Lane re-assertsd his conviction that
the balance lad been paid.
No attempt Is beng made ~ those