Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-02-27
The Ambition of Mark 1ruit
Auff5or Of
THE MAN HIGHER up -fIIS RISE
TO POWER" Etc


was here, and it served my purpose
very well. I don't need much room.
you know. I'm not a Wall street
hero"
"Humphl" grunted Henley. still
skeptic
What" Mark asked. did you come
here for?"
Henley grunted again Cordial. 1
must say. 1 came to restore your
sanity" He rose, hopping his red
face with a silk handkerchief Take
me out of this sun and I'll begin i
hear you're pretty far gone
Mark led him into a cool office-like
room = pleasant enough-and made
chair by a window from which a view
of the valley was to be had
Not sybaritic," Henley grudgingly
admitted, but good enough for a man
who has no women. Now tell me
what you're trying to do here"
And Mark began, simply, without
enthusiasm or sentimentalizing, to set
forth his idea.
The explanation came to an end.
Mark awaited his auditors comment.
"Of course, you know Henley said.
with an easiness that was outward
only, you won't put it through"
Il do not know that" Mark an
swered quietly. This valley is well
situated with respect to the market.
Its transportation facilities are good.
Our fuel is here, and 1 can get ore
here cheaper than Quinby or Mac
Oregon. 1 can make steel cheaper
than anybody in America, and there's
no plant of it's size that can equal
mine in capacity In ten years, with
a fair field
with a fair field. Exactlyi"
You mean 1 won't have it?''
You won't have it,
"Why?"
For one thfng-prof1ts."
I'll make money here
1T isn't a question of your profits
nor of profits alone, but the size of
profits. No." Henley shook his head
vigorously, you can't have it I'm
here to tell you that"
"WeII?"
81 have no objection to your safety
appliances. They're practical They'll
save twice their cost in damages ev-
cry year"
That's Obvious
I'll agree to the baths. If the men
want to clean up after work-why, 1
habit"
Mark smiled. THE man will be
grateful"
I'm not Joking" Henley reminded
him sternly. I'll go as far as to
agree to their eight-hour shift-as an
experiment I'd like to see it tried
out"
"Yes?"
Your company stores, company gar
dens and company homes are well
enough. They can be made profitable
properly handled. But your profit
| sharing plan is all wrong and"-Hen-
| ley leaned forward and raped on the
arm of his chair to emphasize each
word-"and you can't have it. 1
wouldn't care if you gave them only
a nominal share 1t would be useful
at first-to get good men up here. Aft
erward you could cut it out. But why,
in Gods name, give them haIf?"
Because I'll need the other half for
some things I'm planning
I'm not Joking" Henley repeated.
why give them half?"
'Oh, that's an approximation. 1t
seems to me a pretty fair division of
the spoils. 1 don't insist on it's accu-
racy- However, that's not the point u
Mark Strengthened up in his seat by
| the desk, facing Henley squarely
Have you forgotten that my money
and mine only is invested In this
plant? I can quote good authority
yourself, that man ought to be al
lowed to run his own business to suit
himself
las long as he hurts no one else
Mark smiled again at that. "You
said you weren't joking. 1 suppose
you aren't That's the joke of it. How
ever. the point is, you forbid me tc
conduct my own business in my owl
way And your authority?"
The power" answered Henley qui
city, ito smash you-and the will
We've got labor where we want 1t III
this business and we propose to keel
it there. What you propose would bs
a dangerous precedent. If we let yol
succeed, we'd have the men all ovel
the country yammering for the sam.
freak conditions Therefore, we won
let you succeed
Il see. And your"
ct? / made you-have you forgot
ten that?-and I'm responsible for you
/ helped to put labor where it is, a
some risk to myself, and 1 don't pro
pose to have man of my own max
ing undo the biggest thing I've eve
done Therefore, won't let you sue
coed"
You are quite sure you can do IL