Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-18

That was all there was to it, but it
was enough. Henry Archer. shrank as il
he had been struck. 1t was against
every tradition and instinct of his ma.
private business to the public gaze. IT
was bold audaciCus unrestraincd il,
vast was iudelCate. His boys had
gone too far, and 1t was too late to stop
them. For the time being he gave nc
thought to what the effect of that note
On their desire for a new spur track
might be. He thought only Of the effect
on his own sensibilities.
did you notice anything as you came
over the bridge. father" inquired Jerry,
unable to resist burst 'ng into that gen
tlcman's office the moment lie knew that
he was there.
Archer in carefully restrained dispeas-
ure. II confess it was quite shock
to me"
Nothing to the shock to Councils and
Jim Rand" declared the son with en-
thusiaSm. ITS working. father. its
working The newspapers are ealing
up half dozen reporters are on theiI
way out here for story n"w.
"a story" Fine distaste curlod OF.
Archer's lip, Il hope you will give them
nothing
Nothing? Why, father, I'm going to
give them everything"
But Jerry, it is, it s so. so common ,
SO, so dispeasing-to me--thiS TINS en-
ploitation of our business before tht
public eye
Sunlight is our salvation. father" ar
gued Jerry cheerfulIy. "The organiza-
tion thriyes on darkness. They tax
advantage of the natural reserve WIN
which you as a gentleman. ana others
like YOU seek to conduct your AFFAIRS,
and use it as screen to cover up thtli
own crooked work. sunlight is me
worst enemy of evil germs. and SO In
going to give papers the full story
Mr.. Archer's features tightened ano
for a moment he was silent.
"I supposc you're in. you must go
through" he conceded RELUCTANTLY, 'bml
7 don't Ike it. | don't ike IT at an
Besides, | fear it will only make theh
more difficult to deal with"
"Ir publicity won't bring them round
then Philadelphia citizenship isn't what
] think it is" affirmed Jerry as Chuck,
ling in his eXuberance. lie turned anu
went out to meet the first of "A delesa,
tion of reporters now visible i'll his own
office
The campaign with these enterprisinE
gentlemen. so far as Jerry was con
cerned. was simply to show mem .nT nG
cleared of encumberiug buildings az
great expense. the excavations for t,le
foundation. the plans for the factory, tilt
number Of men it would employ ana tl'
size of the payroll it would diSburSe
Following this, he gave hint of the
magnitude of orders awaiting this IN
creased capacity tOr pfOuuctlOll l--OlS SlSI
the failure to deliver which meant ships
DELAYED in completion, guns delayed II
construction and a chain or consequences
that ran clear across the ocean TO "hert
American soldiers would be dying on a
battlefield because the palm of a petty
political boss in Philadelphia rad no'
been crossed by a bribe.
Profoundly impressed by such Sc
Queuce of grave possibiIitieS' tor a a, lew
bowed and every pencil busy, nut th'
first man to get his notes completed
passed in a moment from question o.
world wide Importance to one apSurulS
Pardon me. Mr.. Archer" he inquired
but how did you hurt your head
His head? For three days. to aEoit
unwelcome interrogations Jerry hat
worn his hat in the office. Now in the eeX
citement OF piling up munitions for TN
heavy hOwitzers OF the daily press t'
hurl into the camp of his enemies he hat
forgotten his head and tossed off his ha
as he took his seat again at his desl
after the tour over the new site. 1t wa
only at such a question from Teporte
that he recalled the unpleasant posslplli
very quickly this morning.
MY head? oh! A piece Of wood fel
on it." And Jerry, showing his teetl l
of the works His lips had spoken tn
truth, but this nod was almost a ho Il
any rate, II was completely misleading
for the inqurng news gatherer, droppe'
his notes in his pocket and with tina
glance about him, led his confreres in
scattering to telephones, for your hus
Ting afternoon reporter does not write
he telephones.
'They ate 1t up, Paul" Jerry eXulted
rushing into his brothers room.
"Now If the editors only eat it up,
commented Paul.
The afternoon editions showed tina
they had; headlines hailed the sig
bie local news sensa tofSf- of the da.
No detail OF the situation outlined b
Jerry 10 the reporters was. overlooked
Nnd their stories abounded In references
70 the stupidity Of Councils me fenaiit