The labor world., 1911-02-11
By CHARLES KLEIN.


stock as bribe, he would not care so
much, for then he would have fore
seen and discounted the chances of ex-
posure. Yes, there was no doubt pos
sible. He was the. victim Of con-
spiracy; there was an organized plot
to ruin him, to get him out Of the way.
The interests" feared him, resented
his judicial decisions, and they had
halted at nothing to accomplish their
purpose. How could he fight them
back, what could he do to protect him
self? He had no proofs of a con-
spiracy; his enemies worked in the
dark; there was no way in which h
could reach them or know who they
were.
He thought of John Burkett Rydey:,
All. he remembered now! Ryder was
the man who had recommended the
investment in Alaskan stock. OF
course. Why did he not think of it be
fore? He recollected that at the time
he had been puzzled at receiving so
much stock, and he had mentioned i,
to Ryder. adding that the secretary had
told him it was customary. Oh, why
had he not kept the secretary's letter.
But Ryder would certainly remembe!
it. He probably still had his two let
ters in which he spoke of making til.
investment If those letters could bt
produced at the congressional inquir.
they would clear him at once. so, losing
no time and filled with renewed hope
he wrote to the Colossus strong, mai.
~ letter, which would have melted a:
Iceberg, urging Mr.. Ryder to come for
ward now at this critical time ant
clear him Of this abominable charge
or in any case to kindly return tn:
two letters he must have in his pos
session, as they would 60 far to helr
him at the trial. Three days passed
and no reply from Ryder. On the
fourth came polite but frigid note
from Mr.. Ryder's private secretary.
Mr.. Ryder had received Judge Ross.
more's letter and in reply begged to
state that he had a vague recollection
Of some conversation with the judge
In regard to investments, but he did
not think he had advised the purchase
Of any particular stock, as that was
something ;tss never did on principle,
even with his most intimate friends.
He had NO wish to be held accountable
In case OF loss, etc. As to >theEletter
which; Judge :Rossmore n1enti Toned as
having written to MI Ryder, insregard
to having received more stock than he
had bought, Of that Mr.. Ryder had no
recollection whatever. Judge Ross
more was probably mistaken as to the
identity of his correspondent He re-
gretted he could not be Of more service
to Judge Rossmore and remained his
very obedient servant.
It was very evident that no help was
to be looked for in that quarter. There
was even decided hostility in Ryders
reply. Could it be true that the finan-
cier was really behind these attacks
upon his character? Was itpossible that
one man, merely to make more money,
would deliberately ruin his fellow man
whose hand he had grasped in friend
ship? He had been unwilling to be-
lieve it when his friend ex-Judge Stott
had pointed to Ryder as the author of
all his misfortunes but this unsym-
pathetic letter, with it's falsehoods, its
lies, plainly written all over its face,
was proof enough. Yes, there was
now no doubt possible. John Burkett
Ryder was his enemy, and what an
enemy! Many a man had committed
suicide when he had incurred the en-
nifty Of the Colossus. Judge Rossmore,
completely discouraged, bowed his
head to the inevitable, but he sent for
his old friend ex-Judge Stott.
They were lifelong friends, having
become acquainted nearly thirty years
ago at the law school, at the time
when both we're young men about to
enter on a public career. Stott, who
was Rossmore's Junior, had begun as q
lawyer in New York and soon acquired
a reputation in criminal practice. He
afterward became assistant district
attorney and later, when a vacancy oc-
CURED in the city magistrature, he was
successful in securing the appointment.
On the bench he again met his old
friend Rossmore, and the two men
once more became closely intimate.
The regular court hours, however, soon
palled on man of Judge Stott's nerv-
GUS temperament, and it was not long
before he retired to take up once more
his criminal practice. He was still a
young man, not yet fifty, and full Of
xigor and fight. He had blunt man.
ner, but his heart was in the right
place, and he had record as clean as
his close shaven face. He was q hard
worker, brilliant speaker and one Of
the cleverest cross examiners at the
bar. This was the man to whom Judge
Rossmore naturally turned for legal
assistance. .
Stott was out west when he first
heard Of the proceedings against his
old friend, and this indignity put upon
the only really honest man in public
life whom he knew, SO incensed him
that he was already hurrying back to
his aid when the summons reached
him. =. ~
Meantime a fresh and more serious