Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/271

 In 1907, an article by H. H. in the "Arena," entitled "How to Smash the Cable Ring," first aroused public interest. The next year this was followed up by further revelations in "The Financial Review of Reviews," which created a remarkable sensation. Thus encouraged, H. H. issued a pamphlet advocating the establishment of universal penny-a-word telegrams, which he submitted by way of referendum to the judgment of representative members of the thinking classes.

The overwhelming consensus of opinion in favour of penny-a-word telegrams led to a great meeting being held by the Royal Colonial Institute to consider the practicability of penny-a-word telegrams throughout the Empire.

The late Lord Jersey presided, and powerful speeches were made by Mr Marconi, the Postmaster-General of Canada, the Hon. R. Lemieux, Lord Strathcona, Sir Charles Bruce, and others.

In the course of his speech H. H. said:

"Twenty-one years have passed away since I stood on this platform before a distinguished representative and imperial assembly to advocate imperial penny postage and cheap cablegrams. On that night, in the year of the first Jubilee, I first advanced the theory that a cheap telegraphic system for the Empire was a commercial possibility, and that it would do much to knit together our scattered Empire and link up its many peoples.

"I need not bring back to your minds the fierce resistance this project encountered. It was 'unheard of,' 'monstrous,' and 'the wild phantasy of a dreamer.' I was denounced for this notion of cheap cabling in the language of the Old Bailey. The proposals I placed before you were viewed with abhorrence by