"Why, I mean just this! Putting it in business terms, I propose to ask for
legislation that will make the public the partners of the men who handle
and control the water-power."
"I don't know how you're going about to do that in any sensible way,"
grumbled the other. "There have been a good many rumors about that
forthcoming report of yours, Morrison. What's the big notion in keeping it
so secret?"
"I have been ordered to report to the legislature, Blanchard! I have
prepared my case for that general court, and customary deference and
common politeness in such matters oblige me to hold my mouth till I do
report officially."
"Nothing to be hidden, then?" probed the magnate.
"Not a thing--not when the proper time comes!"
"But we have been left guessing--and I don't like the sound of the rumors.
You must expect big interests to get an anchor out to windward. There's no
telling what a damphool legislature will do in case a theory is put up and
there are no sensible business arguments to contradict it."
"As owners of water-power, Blanchard--you and I--let's bring our business
arguments into the open this year, in the committee-rooms and on the floor
of the House and Senate, instead of in the buzzing-corners of the lobby or
down in the hotel button-holing boudoirs! Now we'll get right down to
cases! You have been leaving me out of your conferences ever since I
refused to drop my coin into the usual pool to hire lobbyists. I take the
stand that these times are more enlightened and that we can begin to trust
the people's business to the people's general court in open sessions."
Blanchard showed the heat of a man whose conscience was not entirely
comfortable. "Just what is this _people_ idea that you're making so much
of all of a sudden, Morrison? People as partners, people as
judges--people--people--" Blanchard hitched over the word wrathfully.
"People be damned?" inquired Stewart, with a provocative grin.
"There's too much of this soviet gabble loose these days. It all leads to
the same thing, and you've got to choke it for the good of this
government!"
"Right you are to a big extent, Blanchard! But just now we are talking of
a vital problem in our own state and it has nothing to do with sovietism."
"But you spoke of making the people our partners!"
"I merely put the matter to you in a nutshell, for we'll need to be moving
on pretty quick!" He glanced at the clock. He threw off his jacket and
pulled on his coat.
"Partners how?"
"It will be explained in my official report, as chairman of the power and
storage commission."
"I don't relish the rumors about what that report is likely to recommend."
"Rumors are prevalent, are they?"
"Prevalent, Morrison, and devilish pointed, too!"
"I suppose that's why the old horned stags of the lobby are whetting their
antlers," surmised Morrison, giving piquant emphasis to his remark by a
gesture toward a caribou head, a trophy of his vacation chase. "I have
heard a rumor, too, Blanchard. Are they going to introduce legislation to
abolish my commission and turn the whole water-power matter over to the
public utilities commission?"
Blanchard flushed and said he knew nothing about any such move.
"I'm sorry that syndicate isn't taking you into their confidence,"
sympathized Morrison. "I know just how you feel. The boys who ought to
train with me are not taking me into their conferences, either!"
"You spoke of coming down to cases!" snapped Blanchard, his uneasy
conscience getting behind the mask of temper. "I don't ask you to reveal
any official report. But can you tell me what this 'people-partners' thing
is?"
"I can, Blanchard, because it isn't anything that is specifically a part
of the report. It's principle, and principle belongs in everything. I
merely apply it to the case of water-power in this state."
He went close to his caller and beamed down on him in a sociable manner.
"I rather questioned my own good taste and the propriety of my effort to
get on to the commission and be made its chairman. As an owner of power
and of an important franchise I might be considered a prejudiced party.
But I hoped I had established a bit of a reputation for square-dealing in
business and I wanted to feel that my own kind were in touch with me and
would have faith that I was working hard for all interests. You and I can
both join in damning these demagogues and radicals and visionaries and
Bolshevists. We must be practical even when we're progressive, Blanchard."
"Now you're talking sense!"
"I hope so!" But his next statement, made while the millman glared and
muttered oaths, fell far short of sanity in Blanchard's estimation. "I'm
fully convinced that one of the inalienable rights of the people is
ownership of water-power. We franchise-proprietors ought to content
ourselves with being custodians, managers, lessees of that power that
comes from the lakes that God alone owns."
"Are you putting that notion in your confounded report?"
"I am."
"Are you sticking in something about confiscating the coal and the oil and
the iron and--"
"Oh no!" broke in Morrison, calm in the face of fury. "Those particular
packages all seem to be nicely tied up and laid on the shelf out of the
people's reach. And whether they are or not is not my concern now. I'm
only a little fellow up here in a small puddle, Brother Blanchard. I'm not
undertaking the reorganization of the world. I'll say frankly that I don't
know just what kind of legislation in regard to the already developed
water-power in this state can be passed and be made constitutional. But
now when coal is scarcer and high, or monopolized, at any rate, to make it
high and scarce in the market, the exploiters are turning to water-power
possibilities with hearty hankering, and the people are turning with
hope."
"I'm afraid I'm getting hunks out of that report of yours, ahead of
official time."
"You're getting the principle underlying it--and you're welcome."
"Morrison, the idea that the people have any overhead right and ownership
in franchise-granted and privately developed water-power is ridiculous and
dangerous nonsense."
"It does sound a bit that way, considering the fact that the people of
this state have never even taxed water-power, as such. The ideas of the
fathers, who gave away the power for nothing, seem to have come down to
the sons, who haven't even woke up to the fact that it's worth
taxing--yes, Blanchard, taxing even to the extent that the people will get
enough profits from the taxation to make 'em virtual partners! And as to
the millions of horse-power yet to be developed, let the profits be called
lease-money instead of taxation. Then we'll be going on a business basis
without having the matter everlastingly muddled and mixed and lobbied in
politics!"
Blanchard knew inflexibility when he saw it; and he knew Stewart Morrison
when it came to matters of business. He did not attempt argument. "Well,
I'll be good and cahootedly condemned!" he exploded.
"No, you'll be helped and I'll be helped by putting this on a business
basis where the radicals, if they grab off more political power, won't be
able to rip it up by crazy methods; the radicals don't know when to stop
when they get to reforming."
"Radicals! Confound it, it looks to me as if we had one of 'em at the head
of that power commission! Morrison, have you turned Bolshevik?"
"My friend," expostulated Stewart, gently, "when you opposed the principle
of prohibition the fanatics called you 'Rummy.' The name hurt your
feelings."
"They had no right to impugn my motives!"
"Certainly not! It's all wrong to try to turn a trick by sticking a
slurring name on to conscientiousness."
"You're turning around and hammering your friends and associates, no
matter what name you put on it."
"It has always been considered perfectly proper to lobby for the big
interests in this state for pay! Why shouldn't I lobby for the people for
nothing?"
"You and I are the people! The business men are the people. The
enterprising capitalists who pay wages are the people. The people are--"
He halted; the telephone-bell had broken in on him.
Morrison apologized with a smile and answered the call. He sprawled in his
chair, his elbow on the table, and listened for a few moments. "But don't
stutter so, Joe!" he adjured. "Take your time, now, boy! Say it again!"
He attended patiently on the speaker.
"They won't take your word on the matter, you say? Why, Joe, that's not
courteous in the case of an American Legion commander! Hold on! I can't
come down there! I have to attend the reception at Senator Corson's."
He listened again to what was evidently expostulation and entreaty, and,
while he listened, he gazed at the sullen Blanchard with an expression of
mock despair.
"Joe, just a word for myself," he broke in. "I'm afraid you have pledged
me a little too strongly. You went off half cocked this afternoon! Oh no!
I don't take it back. I'm not a quitter to that extent. But I really
didn't undertake to run the whole state government, you know! Those folks
up on Capitol Hill don't need my advice, they think!"
With patience unabated he listened again. "If it's that way, Joe, I'll
have to come down. I'll certainly never put an honest chap in bad or leave
him in wrong, when a word can straighten the thing. Hold 'em there! I'll
be right along!" He hung up.
"As I was saying," persisted Blanchard, "the people--"
Morrison put up his hand and shook his head.
"I guess we'd better hang up the joint debate on the people right here,
Blanchard! What say if you come along with me and pick up a few facts? The
facts may give you a new light on your theories." He hastened to a closet
and secured his top-coat and his silk hat.
"Come where?"
"Down to the Central Labor Union hall. There's a big crowd waiting there."
Blanchard surveyed his own evening apparel in a mirror. "I'm headed for a
reception--not the kind I'd get as the head of the Conawin corporation
from a labor crowd."
"Nevertheless, I urge you to come with me. I believe that a little contact
with the people in this instance will clear your thoughts."
"Another one of your riddles!" snorted the manufacturer. "What's it all
about?"
"Blanchard," declared Morrison, setting his jaws grimly while he pondered
for a moment and then coming out explosively, "it's about what we may
expect from the people when damned fools try to play politics according to
the old rules in these new times. It's about what we may expect of the
people when they're denied a showdown by men at the head of public
affairs. There's trouble brewing in the city of Marion to-night. What
would you do if you happened to glance out of your office window and saw a
leak spurting big as a lead-pencil from the base of the Conawin dam? You'd
know the leak would be as big as a hogshead in a few minutes, wouldn't
you?"
"Yes!" admitted the other.
"You'd get to that leak and plug it mighty quick, wouldn't you?"
"No need to ask!"
"Well, this is a hurry call and I need your help."
"I don't stand in well with the labor crowd--" demurred Blanchard.
"I know all that! You're hiring too many aliens and Red radicals in your
mill! But you ought to have some influence with your own gang, such as
they are! I suspect that they're the leading trouble-makers down in that
hall. Blanchard, if you're not afraid of your own men, come along!" He
clapped the millman on the shoulder and led the way toward the door.
"If there are scalawags starting that 'state steal' howl again somebody
ought to tell 'em that there are three machine-guns and plenty of loaded
rifles on Capitol Hill to-night, and the men behind 'em propose to shoot
to kill," stated Blanchard, vengefully, shaking his silk hat.
Morrison whirled on him. "You're just the man to go down there and tell
'em so! You probably have inside information. All I know is hearsay! I'll
advise 'em and you threaten 'em. Come along, Blanchard! We'll make a good
team!"
V