"What is that?"
"The combination of local department stores. And, as such, they can dictate to every Worthington newspaper what it shall or shall not print."
"Nonsense!"
"Including the 'Clarion.'"
"There you're wrong, anyway."
"The department stores are the biggest users of advertising space in the city. No paper in town could get along without them. If they want a piece of news kept out of print, they tell the editor so, and you bet it's kept out. Otherwise that paper loses the advertising."
"Has it ever been done here?"
"Has it? Get Veltman down to tell you about the Store Employees' Federation."
"Veltman? What does he know of it? He's in the printing-department, isn't he?"
"Composing-room; yes. Outside he's a labor agitator and organizer. A bit of a fanatic, too. But an A1 man all right. Get the composing-room," he directed through the telephone, "and ask Mr. Veltman to come to Mr. Surtaine's office."