The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-10-15

his own shoulder.
Allison's answer consisted of one
word
Consolidation" he said.
There was a moment Of silence,
while these men absorbed that simple
idea, and glanced speculatively, not at
Allison, but at each other. They we're
kings, these heads OF mighty corpora
tons, whose emissaries carried their
sovereignties into the farthest corners
of the earth. Like friendly kings, they
had helped each other in the protec-
ton of their several domains; but this
was another matter.
That's a large proposition, Ed"
stated Vance, very thoughtfully. All
sense of levity had gone from this
meeting. They had come, as they
thought, to promote a large mutual in
terest, but not to weld Frankenstein.
II did not understand your project to
be so comprehensive. l fancied your
idea to be that the various companies
| represented here, with Chisholm as
financial controller, should take a mu-
tual interest in the support of the At
lantic-Pacific, for the purpose of con
solidating the railroad interests of the
country under one management, there
by serving our own transportation
needs"
Very well put, Vance" approved
Taylor, smoothing his pointed mus
tache.
THAT is a mere logical development
of the railroad situation" returned AL
lison. IF had not cemented this di.
rect route, someone would have made
the consolidation you mention within
ten years, for the entire railroad stu
alton has been disorganized since the
death of three big men in that field;
! and the scattered holdings would be,
and are, an easy prey for anyone vital
ly interested enough to invade the in
dustry. | have no such minor propo-
sition in mind. l propose, with the
Atlantic-Pacific as a nucleus, to, first,
as have said, bring the financial ter
minals of every mile of railroad in the
United States into one central office.
With this | then propose to combine
the National Dairy Products consolida-
ton, the Standard Cereal company,
the Amalgamated Metals Constructive
company, the Union Fuel, American
Textiles, the United States Supplies,
and the stupendous financial interests
swayed by the banks tributary to the
Majestic Trust company. | propose to
weld these gigantic concerns into one
corporation, which shall be the might.
est organization the world has ever
known. Beginning with the control of
transportation, it will control all food,
all apparel, all construction materials,
all fuel. From the shoes on his feet
to the roof over his head, every man
in the United States of America, from
laborer to president, shall pay tribute
to the International Transportation
company. Gentlemen, If have
dreamed big, it is because have dealt
with men who deal only in large
dreams. What propose is an empire
greater than that ever swayed by any
monarch in history. We eight men.
who are here in this room, can build
that empire with a scratch of pen,
and can hold 1t against the assaults
of the world"
His voice rang as he finished, and
Babbitt looked at him in wonder. AL.
lison had always been a strong man,
but now, in this second youth, he was
an Antaeus springing fresh from the
earth. There was moments lull, and
then a nasal voice drawled into the
silence.
Allison" it was the voice of old
Joseph G. Clark, who had built the
Standard Cereal company out of one
wheat elevator; who is to be the mon.
arch Of your new empire?"
For just moment Allison looked
about him. Vastly different as these
men were, from the full-bearded Hav.
erman to the smooth.shaven old 10.
seph G. Clark, there was some one ex.
preston which was the same in every
man, and that expression was mas.
terry. These men, by the sheer force
of their personality. by the sheer domi.
nance of their Wills, by the sheer viril-
ity of their purposes, by the sheer dog.
ged persistence which balks at no OBJ.
stacle and hesitates at no foe, had
fought and strangled and throttled
their way to the top, until they stood
head and shoulders above all the
strong men of their respective do.
mains, safe from protest or dispute
of sovereignty, because none has risen
strong enough to do them battle They
were the indicated champions of
their classes, and the life of every
man in that group was an epic! Who
was to be monarch of the new empire
Allison answered that question as
simply as he had the others.
"The best man." he said.
There had been seven big men in
America. Now there were eight They
all recognized that.
"0f course" went on Allison, my
proposition does not assume that any
man here will begin by relinquishing