The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-02
(To BE Continuedl.
CHAPTER v.
A Good Man and His Woes.

donia election against Dunkirks road, |
we went fishing with Roebuck in the |
northern Wisconsin woods. 1 had !
two weeks, two uninterrupted weeks, |
in which to impress myself upon him;
besides, there was Ed, who related in
tedious but effective detail, on the
slightest provocation, the achieve
ments that had made him my devoted
admirer. So when, l went to visit
Roebuck in June, at his house near
Chicago, he was ready to listen to
me in proper spirit.
| soon drew him on to tell OF his
troubles with Dunkirk-h0w the sena-
tor was gouging him and every big
corporation doing business in the
state I've been loyal to the party
for 40 years" said he bitterly yet, If
| had been on the other side it
couldn't cost me more to do business.
have to pay enough here, heaven
knows. But it costs me more in your
state-with your man Dunkirk." His
white face grew pink with anger.
It's monstrous! Yet you should
have heard him address my Sunday
school scholars at the last annual out
ing I gave them. What an evidence of
the power of religion it is that such
wretches as he pays the tribute OF
| hypocrisy to it,"
His business and his religion were
Roebuck's two absorbing passions
religion rapidly predominating as he
| For
why do you endure his blackmail-
ing. Mr.. Roebuck?" l asked. He is
growing steadily worse"
He's certainly more rapacious
than ten years ago." Roebuck admit
ted. Our virtues or our vices, which
ever we give the stronger hold on us.
become more marked as we approach
are prepared for the place that has
been prepared for u.s.
But why do you put up with his
impudence?"
What can we do? He has political
power and is our only protection
against the people. They have been
infamed with absurd notions about
|
envy and suspicion of the rich. They
have passed laws to hamper us in de-
Veloping the country and want to pass
more and worse laws. So we must
either go out of business and let the
talents God has given us lie idle in
a napkin, or pay the Dunkirks to pre-
vent the people from having their ig
norant wicked way, and destroying
us and themselves. For how would
they get work If we didn't provide
it for them?"
"A miserable makeshift system,
i, hardening back to Dunkirk and
his blackmailing, for l was not just
then in the mood to amuse myself
with the contortions of Roebuck's fex
ible and fantastic moral sense"
I've been troubled in conscience {
great deal, Harvey, about the moral
ity of what we business men arf
: forced to do. l hope-indeed 1 feel
: that we are justified in protecting ou
, property in the only way open to us
The devil must be fought with fire
you know"
I
last year," asked
Nearly $500, 000," he said, and hi
expression suggested that each do
lar had been separated from hin
with as great agony as if it had beel
4 so much flesh pinched from his body
a There was Dominick, besides, and
b lot of Infamous strike-bills to b
S quieted. 1t cost 100000 in ALI
i your state alone And we didn't as
a single bit of new legislation A
the money was paid Just to escap
persecution under those alleged laws
Yet they call this a free country
e When l think of the martyrdom-ye
= the mental and moral martyrdom, {
the men who have made this coul
i try What are the few millions ma
IS may amass in compensation for whs
+ he has to endure? Why, Sayler, "
= not the slightest doubt you could fin
: well-meaning. yes, really honest, Co
fearing people, who would tell you
; am scoundrel! have read sermon
: delivered from pulpits against me-
u Sermons from pulpits!"
J Il have thought out a plan" said
ID after a moments silence and shocke
contemplation of this deplorable sta
of affairs, "a plan to end Dunkirk ar
n cheaper the cost of practical blu:
"a ness"
@ At cheaper the cost" his big ca
l. twitched as if they had been tiekled
: You can't expect to get what "
!, need for nothing" I continued. e
= the present state of public opinio
But I'm sure l could reduce expens
by half-at least half"
Il I had his undivided attention.
" 1T IS patiently absurd" I went c
I'D that you who finance politics al
r. keep in funds these fellows of DO
machines should let them treat y
as if you we're their servants w
as don't you put them in their plaC
"a servants at servants wages?"
q But I've no time to go into politi