Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-04
THE GRAFTERS
tcopyrigb,. 1904. By The Bobbs-Meriil Company
CHAPTER II-coNrINuEp.
By
FRAN CTS LYN d e

Jasper u. BUCKS was laying nOlQ OF the
sentiment Of the audience as though
1t were thing tangible to be grasped
by the huge hands. Unlike Hawk,
whose speech famed easily into denun-
citation when 1t touched on the alien
corporations, he counseled moderation
and lawful reprisals. Land sypdicates,
railroads, foreign capital in whatever
employment, were prime necessities
in any new and growing common
wealth. The province of the people
was not to wreck the ship, but to guide
II. And the remedy for all Ills lay
In controlling legislation, faithfully
and rigidly enforced.
MY friends: I'm only plain, hard
handed farmer, as those Of you who are
my fellow townsmen can testify. But
I've seen what you've seen, and I've
suffered what you've suffered. Year
after year we send our representatives
to the legislature, and what comes Of
It? Why, these corporations, looking
only to their own interests, as they're
In duty bound to do, buys 'em II they
can. You can't blame 'em for that;
it's business-their business. But 1t Is
our business, as citizens OF this great
commonwealth, to prevent It. We have
good laws on our statute books, but
we need more of 'em: laws for con-
troll, with plain, honest men at the
capital, in the judiciary, In every root
and branch of the executive, to en-
force 'em. With such laws, and such
men to see that they are executed,
there wouldn't be any more extortion,
any more raising Of the rates Of trans
portation on the produce of our ranches
and farms merely because the eastern
market for that particular product
happened to jump a few cents on the
dollar.
mo, my friends; plain, hard-handed
farmer though be, can see what will
follow an honest election Of the people,
by the people, and for the people. The
state can bet ought to be-soyereign
within its own boundaries. II we rise
up as one man next Tuesday and put
ticket into the ballot-box that says we
are going to make it so, and keep 1t so,
you'll see a new commodity tariff put
into effect on the Western Pacific rail-
road the day after"
The speaker paused, and into the
little gap of silence barked a voice
from the gallery.
That's what you say. But supposin'
they don't do it?"
Loring was gazing steadfastly at the
blank, heavy face, so utterly devoid OF
the enthusiasm the man was evoking
in others. For one fitting instant he
thought he saw behind the mask. The
immobile face, the awkward gestures,
the siipshod English became suddenly
transparent, revealing the real man; a
man Of titanic strength, Of tremendous
possibilities for good or evil. Loring
put up his glasses and looked again;
but the figure Of the fiash-light inner
vision had vanished, and the speaker
was answering his objector as calmly
as though the house held only the sim
gle critic to be set right.
"I'm always glad to hear a man
speak right out in meeting" he said,
dropping still deeper into the COLO
Quialisms. "Supposing the corpora
tions don't see the handwriting on the
wall-won't see 1t, you say? Then, my
friend, it will become the manifest
duty of the legislature and the execu-
tive to make 'em see it: always law
fully, you understand; always with
lust and equitable respect for the rights
of property in which our free and glo-
rious institutions are founded, but
with level-headed justice, and without
fear or favor"
Again the clamor Of applause rose
like fine dust on the throng-heated air,
and Kent looked at his watch.
1T Is time we were going" he said;
adding: II guess you have had enough
Of 1t, havn't you?"
Loring was silent for the better part
of the way back to the railway station.
When he spoke 1t was in answer to
delayed question Of Kent's.
What do ] think of him? l don't
know, David; and that's the plain
truth. He is not the man he appears
to be as he stands there haranguing
that crowd. That is pose, and an ex-
ceedingly skillful one. He Is not al
together apparent to me; but he
strikes me as being a man Of immense
ossibilities-whether for good or evil.
I can't say"
"You needn't draw another breath
uf uncertainty on that score" was the
curt reioinder. HE Is demagogue.
pure and unadulterated."
Loring did not attempt to refute the
charge.
Are he and his party likely to VIM"
he asked.
God knows" said Kent I'VE have
had so many lightning transforma-
tions in politics in the state that moth
ing is impossible"
I'D like to know" was Loring's
comment. "It might make some dif-
ference to me, personally.
ITO your" said Kent, inquiringly.
THAT reminds me: | haven't given
you a chance to say ten words about
yourself"
"The chance hasn't been lacking.
But my business out here is-well, II
isn't exactly a Star Chamber matter,
but I'm under promise In way not
to talk. about it until have had con-
ference with our people at the capi-
tai. I'll write you about 1t in a few
days"
They were ascending the steps at the
end of the passenger platform again,
and Loring broke away from the po-
litical and personal ENHANCEMENT to
give Kent one more opportunity to
hear his word of negative comfort
1--WE dug up the field OF your recol-
lection pretty thoroughly in our af-
ter-dinner seance in your rooms, Dav-
Id. but I noticed there was corner nj
u you left undisturbed. Was there
any good reason?"
Kent made no show Of misunder-
standing