Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1915-01-01
The Ambition Of Mark Truitt
Asfhor Of
THE MAN HIGHER UP" his RISE
TO POWER" Etc.


l
was here, and it served my purpose
very well / don't need much room,
you know. I'm not Wall street
hero"
"Humphl" grunted Henley. still a
skeptic.
What" Mark asked, did you come
here for?"
Henley grunted again. Cordial, l
must sayl I came to restore your
sanity" He rose. hopping his red
face with silk handkerchief Take
me out of this sun and I'll begin.
hear you're pretty far gone"
Mark led him into cool office-like
room pleasant enough and made
him comfortable with cigar and .
chair by window from which view
of the valley was to be had.
Not sybaritic," Henley grudgingly
admitted, but good enough for man
who has no women Now tell rae
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"
81 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 l can get ore
here cheaper than Quinby or Mac
Gregor. 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
fair field"
With fair field. Exactly
you mean l won't have it?"
You won't have it"
"Why?"
For one thing-profits.
'T'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"
"Well?"
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. II the men
want to clean up after work-why, l
regard bathing as a very proper
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 we'll
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
woodland you can't have it. ]
wouldn't care II you gave them only
nominal share. 1t would be useful
at f1rst--to get good men up here. Aft.
erward you could cut 1t out. But why
In Gods name, give them half?"
Because I'll need the other half for
some things I'm planning"
I'm not toking." Henley repeated
why give them half?"
ooh, that's an approximation. II
seems to me q pretty fair division oil
the spoils. / don't insist on it's accu
racy. However, that's not the point
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? can quote good authority
yourself. that man ought to be al
lowed to run his own business to sui
himself"
las long as he hurts no one else.
Mark smiled again at that. "YoJ
said you weren't joking. / suppos,
ever, the point is, you forbid me Il
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 Il
this business and we propose to keeI
it there. What you propose would b
a dangerous precedent. II we let yo
succeed, we'd have the men all owe
the country yammering for the sam
; freak conditions. Therefore, we won
let you succeed"
. IT see. And your
al? made you--have you forgo
ten that?-and I'm responsible for yo1
l helped to put labor where 1t is, {
some risk to myself, and 1 don't pr
; pose to have man of my own ma
ing undo the biggest thing I've eve
done. Therefore, I won't let you su
ceed."