human
They have made selling agreements with McCrea again and again and left him to hold the sack. We can’t do business in that way. When we give our word it must be good. They give their word to break it. Whenever we make a selling agreement with such people we get beaten, invariably. They have cut into us on the Missouri River, at St. Paul, even at Chicago--from their Kansas plants. They make poor sugar, but it sells, and even when it won’t sell, it demoralizes the trade. Now they are on their knees. They want us to buy to save what they’ve got invested. At a receiver’s sale they would get nothing. But on the other hand Lambert might get the plants. If we tried to bid them in there would be a howl from the Legislature, perhaps.
gpt
It might be better to stand pat,
human
What I propose, and God knows I have explained it before, is this: These people can be trimmed, or they can be satisfied. I say give them eleven millions--six millions cash--three millions preferred and two millions in our common for fifty per cent of their stock instead of sixteen millions for all of their stock.
gpt
It is nothing to us, exclaimed Robert, impatiently.
human
I can make the whole capital back in twelve months with McCrea to help MacBirney reorganize and run the plants. It is a fortune for them, and we keep MacBirney and the rest of them, for ten years at least, from scheming to start new plants. Nelson says there are legal difficulties about buying more than half their stock. But the voting control of all of it can be safely trusteed.
gpt
Too much, it is too much.
human
Bosh. This is a case where generosity is ’plainly indicated,’ as Hamilton says.
gpt
Too much.
human
Robert is right,
gpt
If you are resolved to ruin us, go on!
human
You will be surprised at the success of it, concluded Robert.
gpt
MacBirney wants to come here to live, though Chicago would be the better place for him. Let him be responsible for the Western territory. With such an arrangement we ought to have peace out there for ten years. If we can, it means just one hundred millions more in our pockets than we can make in the face of this continual price cutting.
human
Then it is settled.
gpt
Make the cash five and a half millions.
human
Very good, assented Robert, who to meet precisely this objection had raised the figure well above what he intended to pay.
gpt
As you like, Uncle John, he said graciously.
human
Charles, make the cash five and a half millions.