But great enterprises do not expand themselves without the jealous watchfulness of other competing or interested organizations, and Gorham's daily reports contained an increasing number of references to the efforts being made by these to harass the Consolidated Companies with governmental interference. Senator Kenmore had by this time become the chief spokesman of the Companies in Washington. Since his first exhaustive examination into its affairs, his doubts as to the possibility of conducting so mammoth a consolidation along conscientious lines had been dissipated by the absolute straightness of the course which Gorham steered. His influence had been exerted frequently in behalf of the Companies, and each time the success which thus came to the corporation carried in its wake advantages to the people, just as Gorham had promised. The Senator had become one of Gorham's stanchest admirers and supporters, and the president of the Consolidated Companies in turn relied fully upon him. For several weeks Kenmore's correspondence had suggested certain unrest in the Senate concerning trusts and consolidations, so when Gorham received from him an urgent summons to come to Washington at once, it left no room for doubt as to the necessity which prompted its sending, and obliged him for the present to abandon his idea of rest. Gorham found Kenmore awaiting him in his office, and the Senator, with characteristic directness, came to the point at once. "Some one is starting up another scare on monopolies and combinations, and is making the Consolidated Companies the target. Do you know anything about it?" "Does it come from New York State?" Gorham asked. "Yes; the junior senator is at the head of it." "He is a Tammany man." "Yes." "Brady made him, and now he is collecting his fee. The Consolidated Companies hit Brady hard in the Manhattan Traction deal, you remember. How much headway has it gained?" "Enough to be dangerous; that's why I wrote as I did." "It can't be dangerous while we have the people so strongly with us, but it might become troublesome. Whom do you want me to see?" "The President. I have made an appointment with him half an hour from now. The Senator from New York has touched him a bit by demanding why he is haling the other great corporations into court, and leaving the Consolidated Companies to grow larger and stronger without opposition." "Have you discussed the matter with the President?" "No; I thought it best to let you present it as a whole. Come--we shall find him ready for us."