Publisher's Synopsis
The A.B.C., that semi-elected, semi-nominated body of a few score persons, controls the Planet.Transportation is Civilisation, our motto runs. Theoretically we do what we please, so long aswe do not interfere with the traffic and all it implies. Practically, the A.B.C. confirms or annulsall international arrangements, and, to judge from its last report, finds our tolerant, humorous, lazy little Planet only too ready to shift the whole burden of public administrationon its shoulders.'With the Night MailActions and Reactions.Isn't it almost time that our Planet took some interest in the proceedings of the AërialBoard of Control? One knows that easy communications nowadays, and lack of privacy inthe past, have killed all curiosity among mankind, but as the Board's Official Reporter I ambound to tell my tale.At 9.30 A.M., August 26, A.D. 2065, the Board, sitting in London, was informed by De Forestthat the District of Northern Illinois had riotously cut itself out of all systems and wouldremain disconnected till the Board should take over and administer it direct.Every Northern Illinois freight and passenger tower was, he reported, out of action; allDistrict main, local, and guiding lights had been extinguished; all General Communicationswere dumb, and through traffic had been diverted. No reason had been given, but hegathered unofficially from the Mayor of Chicago that the District complained of 'crowdmaking and invasion of privacy.'As a matter of fact, it is of no importance whether Northern Illinois stay in or out ofplanetary circuit; as a matter of policy, any complaint of invasion of privacy needsimmediate investigation, lest worse follow.By 9-45 A.M. De Forest, Dragomiroff (Russia), Takahira (Japan), and Pirolo (Italy) wereempowered to visit Illinois and 'to take such steps as might be necessary for theresumption of traffic and all that that implies.
