It was a fight from the
beginning. Hardly were our plans made public before we were met by
powerful opposition. A combination of Canadian capital quickly
organized and petitioned for the same privileges. Old Brokaw knew
what it meant. It was the hand of the trust--disguised under a
veneer of Canadian promoters. They called us 'aliens'--American
'money-grabbers' robbing Canadians of what justly belonged to
them. They aroused two-thirds of the press against us, and yet--"
The lines in Whittemore's face softened. He chuckled as he pulled
out his pipe and began filling it.
"They had to go some to beat the old man, Greggy. I don't know
just how Brokaw pulled the thing off, but I do know that when we
won out three members of parliament and half a dozen other
politicians were honorary members of our organization, and that it
cost Brokaw a hundred thousand dollars! Our opponents had raised
such a howl, calling upon the patriotism of the country and
pointing out that the people of the north would resent this
invasion of foreigners, that we succeeded in getting only a
provisional license, subject to withdrawal by the government at
any time conditions seemed to warrant it. I saw in this no blow to
my scheme, for I was certain that we could carry the thing along
on such a square basis that within a year the whole country would
be in sympathy with us.
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