River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-20

nurili4 over the Trecfnice
When the president Of the Van Dan
Trust company failed to receive the
promised millions from BfveTis he call
ed his Telephone and. receiving no an
sNer. sprang into his automobile and
dashed downtown. to, the little main
office. - 49, -.
When the clerk at the door Informed
him that Mr., Riyens could not be seen
by any one. be drove. back to the. pal4,
tial house of his bank smiled sadly
at the mob in front of its huge pillars
ordered its bronze doors closed. walked
around the corner to his home. locked
himself in his room and blew his brains
out
For week the panic held the dnan
cial world 10 the grip of death A doz-
en- banks had closed their doors and a
score Of men who had long boosted
their courage among men had died the
death Of towards when put to the test
One of the most curious results of
the panic was the revulsion or pop
ular feeling against the daring and
honest young officer of the law who
had rendered the greatest service to the
people wrought by any public servant
in a generation He was hailed as the
arch traitor of the people, the man who
had used his high Office to produce
panic and carve a fortune out OF the
ruin of millions whose deposits were
tied up in banks that might never again
open their doors.
Stuart. stung to desperation by their
infamous charges, attempted at first
to repel them He stopped at last in
disgust and maintained afterward
dignified silence
From the first day of the run Bivens
had laughed in the face of the crowd
that beseged the door of his big Broad
granite steps and shouted in their
faces:
Come on. you dirty towards! I've
got your money inside waiting for you,
every dollar of it 100 cents on the dol.
larr
The crowd made no reply They
merely moved ur in line in stoid ST
fence a little closer TO the door. Each
Hay his line had grown longer Riv
rms was not worrying The king had
spoken The folly of these people in
their insane efforts to wreck Biven's
bank was making impossible return
20 normal business
Stuart determined to face this crowd
and have it out with them He be
Iieved that bold appeal to their rea,
son would silence his critics and allay
their insane fears He told Rivens of
his purpose over the telephone, and the
financier protested vigorously:
Don't do it. Jim. ! beg of you" he
pleaded 1T will be waste Of breath
Besides, you risk your life"
IN be there when the bank opens at
10 o'clock tomorrow morning" was the
firm answer
When Stuart appeared the next morn
ing roar of rage swept the crowd
HOwls, curses. catcalls Kisses, boots
and yells were hurled into mis- face. 1t
was new experience in Stuart's life
He flushed red stood for a moment
survey luS tHt ulOU Win SIOWlu5 anger
and lifted his band for silence.
The answer was 4 storm of Kisses
Apparently he hadn't friend III all the
swaying mass of noWilng maniacs. He
drew his heavy brows down over his
eyes and the square jaws ground to-
gether with suIlen determination
I With u sudden impulse he threw his
right hand high above his head and his
voice doomed over the crowd in peal
If command The effect was electrical
painful hush followed.
Gentlemen
He paused and his next words were
spoken in intense silence.
MY answer to the extraordinary
greeting you have given me this
morning is simple am not working
for your approval work for my
own approval because | must in ODE
dience to the call within me. Long
ago in my life gave up ambition and
ceased to ask anything for myself.
You cannot destroy my career be-
rause cherish none The scene you
are enacting here this morning is a
disgrace to humanity. You have sur
rendered to the unmeaning fear that
drives herd of swine over
precipice You have by an act OF
WILL joined in a movement to paralyze