"
"I'm for our state, too, sir! And I'll mention a personal matter that's
close to me, seeing that you have broached the subject. St. Ronan's mill
is responsible for more than two hundred good homes in the city of Marion,
built, owned, and occupied by our workers. And in order to clean up a
million profit for myself, I don't propose to go into a syndicate that may
decide to ship power out of this state and empty those homes."
"You are leaping at insane conclusions," roared Daunt. He shook his finger
under Morrison's nose.
"I'll admit that I have arrived at some rather extreme conclusions, sir,"
admitted Stewart, putting his threatened nose a little nearer Daunt's
finger. "I based the conclusions on your own statement to me that you
proposed to make my syndicate holdings more valuable by a legislative
measure that would permit the consolidation to take over poles and wires
of existing companies or else run wires into communities in case the
existing companies would not sell."
"That's only the basic principle of business competition for the good of
the consuming public. Competition is the demand, the right of the people,"
declared Daunt.
"I'm a bit skeptical--still basing my opinion on your own statements as to
common-stock dividends--as to the price per kilowatt after competitors
shall have been sandbagged according to that legislative measure," drawled
the mayor.
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