Chapter 127: 21 Club
2023-05-02 Author: Yue Shang Xintou
Inside the Messenger Newspaper office, Colin digested the information he'd gathered from the newspapers.
It was clear that, at present, no one was optimistic about Roosevelt's candidacy.
Perhaps even Roosevelt himself wasn't confident he could win the Democratic Party's nomination.
So, this might be an opportunity.
In the forty-plus years since the Sherman Antitrust Act was enacted in 1890, this anti-monopoly environment had fostered a strong regionalism among America's newspapers, leading to a "one city, one paper" situation. Unable to capture the national market, the newspaper industry began to compete for dominance on a city-by-city basis.
Among them, although they were called local newspapers, many—especially those with large circulations like the World Daily News—preferred to be called "major newspapers," that is, mainstream newspapers.
Furthermore, there was a disparity between cities.
For example, the influence of newspapers in New York and Detroit was vastly different.
Not to mention, while mainstream newspapers were based in a single city, their sphere of influence wasn't confined to it. Especially when facing major events like the American Civil War or a Presidential Election, the power of newspapers and the media could completely sway the course of the war and the outcome of the election.
This was particularly true in a capitalist society like the United States, where economics and politics were always intertwined.
If Colin wanted to grow The Messenger and expand its influence beyond New York City, he would sooner or later have to engage with Washington.
If that was the case, why not prepare early?
As he silently contemplated the feasibility of his plan, Colin was also well aware that politics was a double-edged sword.
No one could know the future.
Once the candidate one supported lost, their backers would face an incredibly difficult situation.
Fortunately, however...
For others, this choice might involve uncertain risks, where a single misstep could lead to a plunge into the abyss—even if you survived, you'd be half-dead. But for Colin, it was like an open-book exam; he already knew the outcome.
...
"Old John, I'm leaving the rest to you. I have to go out."
Collecting his thoughts, Colin pulled a pocket watch from his pocket to check the time.
Then he spoke to Old John.
"Leave it to me, boss."
Hearing this, Old John looked up from the typesetting machine, glanced around the newspaper office, and nodded in acknowledgment.
Leaving the newspaper office, Colin boarded a streetcar to head to his appointment.
Although streetcars had begun to decline since The Great Depression, they remained a vital means of transportation in the city during this period.
Ever since 1888, when Edison's technician Frank Sprague invented the electric-powered locomotive, streetcars had rapidly spread across America, ending the "Horse-drawn Streetcar Era."
Beginning in the '90s, streetcars became crucial urban transportation hubs, heralding the dawn of the streetcar era.
However, just as the streetcar era ended the horse-drawn streetcar era...
The rise of the bus ultimately replaced the streetcar.
In the early days of the streetcar's decline, its main replacement was the trolleybus. Public acceptance of buses was not high; many passengers found the exhaust fumes foul and considered them slower than streetcars.
But often, the market wasn't guided by passenger preference.
Gresham's Law was simply the norm.
After paying the 5-cent fare and getting off the streetcar, Colin followed the address to his destination.
He arrived at 2 West 52nd Street, New York, in front of an old brownstone house. The brownstone walls testified to the building's long history. The restaurant had iron railings on both sides, a statue of a jockey in colorful silks and a lit red lantern by the door, and a brand-new American flag hanging out front.
Overall, the restaurant didn't look particularly special.
However, Colin's Super Hearing could faintly pick up the clamor inside the restaurant—the boisterous sounds and the sharp clatter of cups and bowls.
"This should be the place."
Looking up at the "Jack and Charlie's" sign on the restaurant, Colin started to walk in.
"Sir, do you have a reservation?"
"This is a private restaurant. We only accept guests with reservations."
A man in a white shirt at the entrance reached out to stop Colin and asked.
"I was invited by Mr. Howard Hughes. Tell him Collin Roper has arrived."
Colin replied calmly, showing no surprise.
Hearing the name Colin mentioned, the man gestured to his companion, who nodded and quickly slipped into the restaurant behind them.
A few minutes later, the man returned with a waiter and nodded to the man in the white shirt.
"Apologies, sir. Mr. Howard Hughes is waiting for you inside. Number 21's interior is complex, so we've arranged for a dedicated waiter to guide you."
With that, the man in the white shirt stepped aside and gestured for Colin to proceed.
Number 21.
Colin nodded, walked past the man in the white shirt, and silently repeated the name in his mind.
"Mr. Collin Roper, welcome to Jack and Charlie's Number 21. Please, follow me."
Inside, the waiter greeted Colin with a smile. "Mr. Howard Hughes is dining in a rather special location, so I must ask for your patience on the walk there."
With that, the waiter led Colin into the restaurant, where he could see patrons enjoying their meals.
The waiter's pace didn't slow, however. He led Colin through the dining room and into the bustling kitchen, carefully cautioning him as they descended a steep staircase into an enclosed, domed underground chamber.
At this moment, the clamor in Colin's ears grew clearer.
In the restaurant's cellar, the waiter led Colin around in several circles. Any other first-time guest would likely have been completely disoriented by now.
After walking in silence for a minute or two, the waiter finally stopped in front of what appeared to be an ordinary brick wall.
"We're here, sir."
Turning to Colin, the waiter produced a thin iron wire from his coat. As Colin watched, he inserted it into a pin-sized keyhole in the mortar, then leaned his shoulder against the wall and pushed hard.
The next second, with a heavy grinding sound, a large, camouflaged door in the seamless wall was slowly pushed open.
A cacophony of noise, along with the thick smell of smoke and alcohol, rushed out, instantly enveloping Colin who stood just outside.
(end of chapter)