The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-26
CHAPTER ".
A Good Man and His Woes.

After Ed and l had carried the FIRE.
donia election against Dunkirk's 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-how 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. II
had been on the other side 1t
couldn't cost me more to do business.
[ have to pay enough here, heaven
xnows. But 1t costs me more in your
tate-with your man Dunkirk." His
White face grew pink with anger
It's monstrous, Yet you should
ave heard him address my Sunday
chool scholars at the last annual out
ag l gave them. What an evidence of
he power of religion it is that such
vretches as he pays the tribute Of
ypocrisy to it,"
His business and his religion were
toebuck's two absorbing passions
eligion rapidly predominating as he
rev farther away from 60.
why do you endure his blackmail-
ag, 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 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
inflamed with absurd notions about
their rights. They are filled 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
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 II we didn't provide
1t for them?"
"A miserable makeshift system"
his blackmailing, for l was not Just
then In the mood to amuse myself
with the contorions Of Roebuck's nex-
ible and fantastic moral sense"
i've been troubled In conscience a
great DEAL Harvey. about the moral
ity of what we business mon are
forced to do. hope-indeed I feel
that We are justified in protecting our
property In the only way open to US.
Tho devil must be fought with fire,
you know"
How much did Dunkirk rob you of
last year," 1 asked.
Nearly 5000. 00O," he said. and his
expression suggested that each dol
lar had been separated from him
with as great agony as IL II had been
so much flesh pinched from his body.
There was Dominick, besides. and a
lot of infamous strke-bills to be
quieted. 1t cost $500. 900 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
persecution under those alleged laws,
Yet they call this a 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
withdrawing -aa1f-- s-~-o-> F-~H-