Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-05-25

for 40 years" said he bitterly. yet, il
] had been on the other side Il
couldn't cost me more to 10 business.
have TO pay enough here, heaven
knows. But 1t 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 | gave them. What an evidence OF
the power OF religion it is that such
wretches as he pays the tribute OF
hypocrisy to It'll"
His business and his religion were
Hoebuck's two absorbing passions
religion rapidly predominating as he
drew farther away from CO.
Why do you endure his blacBmail-
ing, Mr.. Roebuck?' | 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
judgment When we finally go, we
are prepared for the place that has
been prepared for us
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
inf1amed with absurd notions about
their rights. They are filed with
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
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"
said /, hardening back to Dunkirk and
his Matchmaking, for | 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 a
great deal, Harvey, about the moral
ity of what we business men are
forced to do. / hope-indeed | feel
that we are justified in protecting our
property in the only way open to us.
The devil must be fought with fire,
you know"
How much did Dunkirk rob you Of
last year,? I asked
Nearly 100000" he said, and his
expression suggested that each dol
lar had been separated from him
with as great agony as If it had been
80 much flesh pinched from his body.
There was Dominick, besides, and a
lot of infamous striRe-bills to be
quoted. 1t cost $500 600 in all--in
your state alone And we didn't ask
a single bit of new legislation. All
the money was paid just to escape
perseco on under those alleged laws,
Yet they call this free country
When | think of the martyrdom-yes,
the mental and moral martyrdom, of
the men who have made this coun-
try What are the few millions a man
may amass in compensation for what
he has to endure? Why. Sayler, I've
not the slightest doubt you could find
well-meaning, yes. really honest, God
fearing people. who would tell you
am scoundrel have read sermons,
delivered from pulpits against mel
Sermons from pulpits!"
Il have thought out plan" said ],
after moments silence and shocked
contemplation of this deplorable state
of affairs, "a plan to end Dunkirk and
cheaper the cost of practical bust
ness"
AT cheaper the cost" his big ears
twitched as II they had been tickled.
You can't expect to get what you
need for nothing" | continued. ION
the present state OF public opinion
But I'm sure l could reduce expenses
by hAlf-st least half"
l had his undivided attention
1T is patiently absurd" l went on.
that you who finance politics and
keep in funds these fellows OF both
machines should let them treat you
as II you were their servants. Why
don't you put them in their place
servants at servants wages?"
But I've no time to go into politics
and | don't know anything about it
don't want to know It's a low
business-ignorant corruption, fifth
ness
Take Dunkirk. for example" |
pushed on. His lieutenants and heel
ers hate him because he doesn't di-
vide squarely. The only factor in his
power is the rank and file of the
voters of our party. They, I'm con
WINGED are pretty well aware of his
hypocrisy-but 1t doesn't matter
much what they think They vote like
sheep and accept whatever leaders
and candidates our machine gives
them. They are almost stone blind
in their partizanship and they can al.
ha IN he