Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/299



that have gone to persuade me that the ethics of American politics Ts higher"than the ethics ofbusTness, is that thistypical piece of “business” would be called bribery^and corruption in politics, even by the low-down politicians themselves. TKejHmg^ ' they would take

it knowing that it was a bribe.

The company tried “reason” first. Arthur Holland, the then president of the United Railways, and Chapman, the general manager, called upon Mr. Spreckels. He had become the head and front of the opposition, and they asked him to withdraw. His reply was that he had read all the published arguments of the company against underground trolleys. There was nothing in them, he said, and he asked if they had any others. They said no, that the engineering impossibilities were all they had to offer. There were some sixteen deep depressions on the pro- posed lines, and in the rainy season these could not be drained.

“That, then, is your only reason?” Mr. Spreckels asked.

That was all, they said.

“There is no other?” Mr. Spreckels made sure. “You don’t mind the difference in cost?”

Not at all; they were sure.

“Very well,” Mr. Spreckels said. “Then I