The Green Forest tribune., 1916-01-07

Allison's answer consisted of one word
 Consolidation" he said.
 There was moment of silence while these men absorbed that simple Idea, and glanced speculatively, not at Allison, but at each other. They were Kings, these heads of mighty corpora tons, whose emissaries carried their sovere1gnties into the farthest corners of the earth. Like friendly kings, they had helped each other in the protec- was another matter
 That's large proposition, Ed,'' stated Vance, very thoughtfully. All sense of levity had gone from this meeting. They had come, as they thought, to promote large mutual in- T did not understand your project to be so comprehensive. I fancied your idea to be that the various companies represented here, with Chisholm as financial controller should take mu- tual interest in the support of the At lantic-Pacific, for the purpose of con- solldating 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 mere logical development of the railroad situation" returned Al lison. If l had not cemented this di- rect route, someone would have made the consolidation you mention within ten years, for the entire railroad situ- ation 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. I have DO such minor propo sition in mind. 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 I then propose to combine the National Dairy Products consolida- tion, the Standard Cereal company, the Amalgamated Metals Cons VI, ,,,5, q; Y e
 company, the Union Fuel, American 1 Textiles, the United States Supplies
 and the stupenGous financial interests
 swayed by the banks tributary to the
 Majestic Trust company I propose to
 weld these gigantic concerns into one | rOrnOrati ho1 ha est organization the world has ever known. Beginning with the control of transportation, it will control all food. ;, all apparel, all construction materials. l all fuel. From the shoes on his feet i to the roof over his head, every man in the United States of America, from l laborer to president, shall pay tribute to the International Transportation company. Gentlemen, if have dreamed big, it is because I 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 scratch of a pen. and can hold it against the assaults of the world!"
 His voice rang as he finished, and Rabbit 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 Hull, 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 Hay- erman to the smooth-shaven old Jo- seph G. Clark, there was some one ex pression which was the same in every man, and that expression was mas. tery. These men, by the sheer force of their personality, by the sheer domi- nance of their wills, by the sheer vril- ity of their purposes, by the sheer dog ged persistence which balks at no ob- 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 undefeated 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.
 "Of course" went on Allison. my proposition does not assume that any man here will begin by relinquishing control of his own particular branch of the International Transportation sugar, beef, iron, steel. oil and the other commodities will all be dnr hot I,- |