Matt.
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA
CHARGING TOLLS ON PUBLIC ROADS
These are the times that try men’s souls. So wrote Thomas Paine at the founding of our country, in his broadside, The Crisis.
We, the citizens of Dickey County, are facing our own crisis now, having found our once idyllic life threatened by the draconian policies of one who calls himself “Lord” Denbigh. By taking possession of land in such a way as to totally isolate Fullerton, the despot Denbigh is squeezing the life from our community as surely as does a boa constrictor who enwraps its hapless victims within its powerful coils.
Denbigh has seized control of a road that was constructed by the Territory of Dakota as a public thoroughfare along which people should have clear and unfettered access. Now, by means of armed thugs, he demands a toll from honest citizens who seek only to traverse this throughway. This inhibits not only personal travel, but business travel as well. As a result fewer and fewer businessmen are willing to engage in commerce with our town, creating higher costs for the most basic items.
After making a careful study of the law, this newspaper editor has determined that charging a toll for passage on a public road, even though that road might pass through private land, is illegal, and to do so is little more than highway robbery. Were a masked bandit to stop the stagecoach and demand money from the driver and passengers therein, he would be no more a thief than is Nigel Denbigh for extracting this unlawful toll. I call upon Sheriff Hightower of Dickey County to show the courage of his profession and put an immediate stop to this robbery. And I call upon all citizens of Fullerton, indeed, upon all citizens of Dickey County, to refuse to do any business with him. Perhaps, by a unified effort, we can remove the heel of oppression from the necks of our citizens.
“A courageous article,” Matt said after reading the story. “What was Denbigh’s reaction to it?”
“After the article came out, he sent me a letter, asking me to meet with him.”
“And did you meet with him?”
“Yes, but it was a waste of time.”
“Why?”
“I had thought by the tone of his letter that we might be able to come to some accommodation. As it turned out, all he actually wanted was to bribe me to stop writing articles critical of him.”
John laughed. “In fact, he actually wanted to buy advertisements in the newspaper, extolling his virtues.”
“He wasn’t very happy about it,” John replied. “As I recall, that was when he asked me to leave.”
“What about the people in town? How are they reacting to your critical articles? Didn’t you say that Denbigh does a lot of business with people in town?”
“Yes, and because of that, I think my articles are making some of the people uncomfortable. But nearly as many appreciate them as are opposed to them.”
“And you are going to continue to write articles that are critical of Denbigh?”
“You’re damn right I am. That is, as long as I can afford to keep the newspaper going. The problem now is, many of my advertisers have dropped their accounts. They say that they do not want to do anything that would offend Denbigh for fear of losing his business. And without their ads, I may not be able to continue for lack of money.”
“How much would it cost for you to continue?”
“I don’t know exactly. I can put out a few more editions, but then I will need new newsprint and ink.”
“Suppose I buy in as a partner?” Matt suggested. “How much would it cost for me to invest in one fourth of the paper? That would still leave you in control.”
“Are you serious?”
“I’m very serious.”
“Do you think one hundred twenty-five dollars would be fair?”
“More than fair,” Matt said. “I’ll give you a hundred and twenty-five dollars for a quarter share of the paper, and another one hundred dollars for operating expenses.”
John smiled. “It seems to me like we went through this once before. Only then, it was gold ore you gave me.”
“No gold ore this time, just money, I’m afraid,” Matt said.
“Just money he says,” John said to Millie. “All right, I suppose I can take just money.” He and Millie both laughed.
Matt stepped out to his horse, got the money from his saddlebag, then came back in. “I have another suggestion if you are open to it,” Matt said as he handed John the money.
“What is your suggestion?”
“Suppose you remain publisher, but hire me to work for you. That will give me an excuse for being here, and I can share the heat on anything that appears in the paper.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to put you in danger because of what is essentially my fight,” John replied.
Matt laughed.
