Evening star., 1897-03-06

deficiency in his salary? These are ques-
tions for you to answer. I have tried to
state nothing but facts, and no statement
l have made has been contradicted. The
result is a chain of circumstantial evidence
that would convict a man III any court in
the lard. Men have been hanged on evil
dence less complete"
Gibbons sat down amid almost universal
applause. Marsten rose to his feet slowly.
He knew he had to bring it around in his
favor or lose the race before It began.
There flashed through his mind the SEN
tence. 1T is not the capitalist who will de-
feat you, but the men you are fighting for -
He remembered Braunt's utter lack of faith
in the rope of sand. Then he spoke:
Il have listened attentively to what has
been said, and l have listened without in
terruption because 1 have sat spellbound
by the clcverness of the speech, admiring
its force and logic. and deeply regretting
the fact that 1 have not the eloquence and
gifts of the speaker who has just sat down.
Two things at this moment uppermost
in my mind First, that II some stranger
were in my place. and were sitting among
you, should believe him guilty. Second,
there has come over me feeling of SYM
pathy with any man who has been con-
demned on circumstantial evidence. know
now, as 1 never did before, that many a
poor wretch has gone to an undeserved
death. Gibbons, you have throughout re-
ferred to me as Mr.. Marsten. 1 disclaim
the Mr. as doubtless you do, so / shall
| call you plain Gibbons. Gibbons, you have
"cAcdteu Ire. L he meeting L have called to-
| gether Is against me and for YOU"
There were cries of dissent at this.
pA yes, II IS will prove it in minute
by putting IT. to vote, If you like
Hold onr' cried Gibbons; that is not
| fair. l protest against vote being taken
| after such a declaration"
| am going to take no unfair adyantap pe
| ana only spoke of vote because my as.
sertloh seemed to be doubted. Now, Glib
pons, you asked me several questions. !
ciaim the right 10 put a few to you. and
charse you 10 answer as honestly as If yor
We're on oath. Do you actually believe tha,
J Il didn't say So"
! DO you believe l am?"
| Yes, ] do
ing me?'' Al 'us
| oh, that's too self-evident. IF he CON.
trolls you he controls the action of the m.
\ ion" Va '''e uii-
Please explain how. No action can be
| taken without a majority vote"
| mats 1t exactly. That's why Won ars
| % eelhg Tor our confidence and support &c
! 1Eat "hen the time GENES you can deliver
Sdrtwell what he pays for"
| Il see. Did SartweIl ever offer 10 h,,,
| you?" " ""S
| He never did. He knew better"
| Did you ever offer to sell yourself ,e
| Sartwell?" -
| hats that? What do you mean?"
| IL put the question In another way
Il
| Iew days before the strike ended3,
Gibbons rose to his feet In such evident
| CONFUSION that several of the crowd laugh
ed, and all we've in a state of tense excite
! ment. This was the kind of thing the,
liked. Marsten was carrying the war int
Africa. '>
What are you accusing me off, criet
! Gibbons.
tions. Did you send such a letter or not -
AS leader of the strike may"
| No. no. Answer yes or no."
Let me explain. l say"
| First answer the question Gibbons'
| = refuse to be coerced in this manner
am willing to answer anything, but mus
De allowed to answer in my own way"
no man Is bound to incriminate himself
GIBBONS, as you remarked a while ago
Since We cannot get an answer tn tina
question, will ask another. VIII you civ,
me permission to read your Sartwell lette
to this meeting?'
| Gibbons was dumfounded and forgot ON
tfrely. In his agitation. that the letter ha,
been returned to him, remembering onl,
that It's contents We're not for the genera
| public. His attitude was that of conacion
| guilt.
Read it, read it," cried the crowd. an
the shouts seemed to arouse Gibbons to
sense of the situation.
| Il protest against the reading of a nrI
vate letter in public" he stammered.
And quite right. too." said Marsten. :.
| protested against the public discussion of
private quarrel, and the protest was he'll
against me. Now. have no desire to pus
my opponent to the wall. and will say a
once that the letter in question may be a
innocent as Mary had a little lamb
never read 1t and never saw it. 1 heard O
IT through chance remark, but kno,
nothing of Its contents. You see how eas
It is to ask question q man may hesftat
to answer, and you see of how little valu
circumstantial evidence Is. Now, Gibbons
we are quits. and I am willing to let by
cones be bygones II you are. give yo
| my word-and that Is all have to offel
for I'm the poorest among you-that Al
not in the pay Of any one on earth excep
yourselves. / swear to you that I hav
only one object In view. and that II tn
; fair play. Perhaps can't do what thin
} can. but want to try. II fail. then Il
L the NEXT and haSnn has fr