River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-02-13

couldn't have a more sympathetic
listener tonight, doctor-go on"
Grant all their claims" he began
my, its efficiency. its power, its sue
cess-this is free country, isn't it?"
Theoretically"
well, when l hint at such a thing
to your modern organizing friend that
these enormous profits for the wv
must be paid out of the poverty Of the
many-against whom the strong and
cunning are thus combining-a simple
answer is always ready, Business is
business which translated is the old
cry that the first murderer shrieked
into the face Of his questioner, Am l
my brothers keeper? I saw murder
In those black bead eyes of Bivens'
tonight Do you think he would hest
tate to close a factory to increase a
dividend If he knew that act would
result in the death of its employees
from weakness and hunger? Not for
a minute. He hesitates only at viola
ton of the letter of the criminal CODE"
"But If you sell your business to
these men and retire will you neceSsa-
rily share in their wrongdoingw
I'm very real and tragic sense, yes.
I'm a coward. 1 give up the fight.
I've been both a soldier and a mer-
chant. Why should not trade have its
heroes as well as war? Why shouldn't
be just as ready to die as merchant
for my people as / was on the field of
battle? l am just passing through this
world once. There are some things
simply must do as l pass. They can't
wait, and the thing that has begun to
strange me is this modern craze for
money, money, money, at all hazards,
by fair or foul means. l must fight 1t.
l must. Good food, decent clothes, a
home, pure air, great love-these are
all any human being needs. No hui
man being should have less. 1 will not
strike down my fellow man to get more
for myself while one human being on
this earth wants as much"
You'll never know" Stuart said,
with deep emotion, chow much 1 owe
to you in my own life. You have al
ways been an inspiration to me-"
The patient gray eyes smiled.
I'm glad to hear that tonight, my
boy, for, strange as it may seem to
you, I've been whistling to keep up my
courage. I've a sickening foreboding
of failure. But, after all, can a man
fail who is right?
II don't believe it," was the ringing
answer which Ieaped to Stuart's lips.
I've had to face crisis like this re-
Gently. I was beginning to hesitate
and think Of compromise. You've
helped me-"
"Good luck, my boy" was the CHEEKY
answer. 81 was a poor soldier tonight
myself until the little weasel told me
an obvious lie, and 1 took courage.
He pretended to have come In a mood
of generosity. his offer of settlement L.
spired by love-"
1.-The devil must have laughed"
$50 did Especially when he told
me that he was engaged to be mar
ried."
Engaged-to-be-ma Stuart
made supreme effort to appear indif-
ferent. ITO whom?"
ITO Miss Nan Primrose, young lady
] haven't the honor Of knowing, and he
had the lying audacity to say that he
came at her suggestion" ti
stuart tried to speak and his tongue
refused to move In a stupor of blind
despair he slowly fumbled his way up
to his room. entered and threw him
self across the bed without undressing.
1t was one thing to preach, another to
face the thing itself alone in the dark
ness.
Continued next week.